Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and OSA have been granted service connection. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.,Service connection has been established for PTSD, hypertension, and OSA based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol dependency and tobacco dependency have been denied due to the absence of legal merit. The claim for chronic bronchitis is remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a posthumous medical opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, were related to service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to conflicting opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected exposures and their current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's respiratory conditions are being reviewed again with consideration of his military duties.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent acute bronchitis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's condition was related to his military service. Service connection for a sinus disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided were not in compliance with the July 2023 remand directives. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including diagnosed asthma and/or COPD, is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, illness, or event, including exposure to asbestos and/or exhaust fumes.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in the disability rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome is dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea with bronchitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his time in Southwest Asia during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant private treatment records. The Board will request these records and then readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea claims are reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's eye disability (bilateral) claim is reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis), colon disability (ulcerative colitis), erectile dysfunction and/or vasectomy, kidney stones, and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for restless leg syndrome, finding that the Veteran's many service-connected disabilities raise doubt about a potential relationship to his service. Service connection for chronic bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's claims for bronchitis, athlete's foot, hypercholesterolemia, and dermatitis were denied. The claim for PTSD was granted.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bronchitis residuals, hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability have been granted. The VA has ordered additional development for the hearing loss claim due to potential burn pit exposure, and the low back and right ankle disabilities require further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis/COPD) was granted. The claim for service connection for headaches is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD with emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic pneumonia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted. The claims for asthma and chronic respiratory disorder are remanded due to additional evidence received after the March 2020 statement of the case.

Service connection for chronic bronchitis and obstructive lung disease is granted due to exposure to burn pits in Djibouti.,Service connection for a scar on the left hand/thumb, a residual of a left hand/finger injury sustained during ADT, is granted.

The Veteran's COPD/bronchitis was restored to a 30 percent rating effective October 8, 2010.,For the period prior to October 8, 2010, and after that date, the Veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his COPD/bronchitis.