Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma, COPD, and bronchitis, is being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations. The VA will obtain an opinion that takes into consideration the conceded asbestos exposure in-service and other exposures such as smoke inhalation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis/pneumonia and increased rating for asthma, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis was received on June 24, 2014. The Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denies the request.

The Board found that the Veteran's pneumonia did not originate during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's COPD has been rated at 10 percent, the minimum compensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right foot conditions, low back condition, high cholesterol, bronchitis, sleep disorder, bilateral eye condition, arthritis, and sinus condition. The primary reasons are lack of in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of chronicity after discharge for other conditions, and insufficient herbicide exposure documentation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied because he has not been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, cervical degenerative arthritis with spondylosis and right arm radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the arms, wrists, and hands did not manifest during service or within one year after separation from service. The evidence also indicated that these conditions were not related to service. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2011, for the grant of service connection for COPD was denied as it is not permissible due to a final disallowance in September 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from January 2012 to September 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's service-connected right maxillary sinusitis and bronchitis did not result in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD, skin condition, bronchitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (separate from PTSD) are all service-connected. The rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's sinus and respiratory conditions, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, nasal polyps, and exercise-induced asthma, are found to be related to her service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current restrictive lung disease is less likely than not related to his bronchitis in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current chronic bronchitis is found to have begun during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran died of cardiac arrest resulting from heart and lung conditions. The service records do not show any evidence of exposure to chemicals or herbicide agents, nor does the medical evidence link his death to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, right elbow disability, and bronchitis were denied. The RO granted service connection for PTSD effective June 1, 2011, but did not grant any compensable rating for the disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and prison records. A VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of PTSD and to determine if any claimed disabilities are related to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.