Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The appeal for service connection of a respiratory disability is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide the case.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 12, 2015, for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected chronic bronchitis because the required symptoms were not met. The veteran can file a Supplemental Claim if symptoms worsen.

The Board denied all claims for increased disability ratings. The Veteran's tinnitus, cluster headaches, scars due to lipoma removal and hernia surgeries, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea with chronic bronchitis did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for asthma with bronchitis and a higher rating for the same condition were denied. TDIU from November 29, 2013, was granted.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the veteran's disabilities did not originate in or are related to his military service.

The veteran's request for an increased rating for chronic bronchitis was denied. The issues of service connection for high blood pressure, sinusitis, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a respiratory disability, including bronchitis. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq is presumed.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including lung disability, bronchitis, and psychiatric disorders. Some issues were dismissed, and others were remanded for further review.

The veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for several conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew all claims.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hearing loss. Other claims were remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cardiovascular disease, left shoulder condition, scars, kidney condition, TBI residuals, diabetes mellitus type II, diverticulitis, gastritis, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, headaches, right shoulder disability, dermatitis, dry eye syndrome, kidney stones, and pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD and bronchitis is granted due to presumed exposure to burn pits during his service in Kuwait, as provided under the PACT Act.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary due to the lack of proper notice regarding an element not met in denying the Veteran's increased rating claim for asthma with recurrent acute bronchitis. The Veteran was not informed about the intermittent course of systemic corticosteroids, which may have been an issue.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent pneumonia with lung scarring has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the combined effects of his service-connected disability and other non-service-connected respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, as the evidence does not show it meets or approximates the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 0 percent, as he has experienced no incapacitating episodes in the past year and his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bronchitis and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The case will be returned to the AOJ for correction of these errors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ must schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his current symptoms and manifestations of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bronchitis was denied as the FEV-1/FVC ratio most accurately reflects his disability level, not warranting any higher than a noncompensable rating.