The Veteran's bronchitis is granted service connection. The claims for PTSD and PVD are remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA contract examiner provided a positive opinion linking the Veteran's current respiratory disability to his military service, but failed to address whether the Veteran's in-service drug use indicated he was experiencing psychiatric symptoms during service or self-medicating.
- Claimed conditions
- bronchitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the left lower extremity (LLE), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the right lower extremity (RLE)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2022
- Citation
- 22013450
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22013450.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for frequent urination, erectile dysfunction, chronic pain multiple joints, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and chronic bradycardia, acid reflux, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the presence of service-connected conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bronchitis, OSA as secondary to rhinitis, and migraine headaches as secondary to hypertension or OSA. The AOJ will need to provide additional medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions, including considering the synergistic effects of all relevant exposures.
- Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection for bronchitis has been dismissed because the benefit was granted in a previous rating decision.
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