Chronic bronchitis — all decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including MAI, allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, renal cyst, and muscle weakness (related to myasthenia gravis), have been denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center on January 17, 2011 is denied because the emergency treatment he received was not for a condition that required immediate attention due to its severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication. The issues include an initial rating higher than 10 percent for interstitial lung disease with chronic bronchitis, TDIU, and a retroactive effective date for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected bronchitis and asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including OSA, PLMD and RLS, lung disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU from November 28, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension, respiratory disability (including asthma, bronchitis, and dyspnea), right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to the need to address other issues that may impact the TDIU and Chapter 35 (DEA) benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the claims for bronchitis and heart disorders due to herbicide exposure. The decision on the right knee disorder is final, while the other two issues are pending further review.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for headaches and dizziness with blackouts is denied.,The appeals seeking to reopen claims of service connection for bronchitis and COPD are granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the February 1995 rating decision is both new and material, and that the claims of service connection for bronchitis and COPD may be reopened on de novo review.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and fingers degenerative arthritis, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), headaches, a flu-like condition, bronchitis, a left knee and leg condition, and a right knee condition.

The Veteran's asthma with history of bronchitis is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6602. The effective date remains unchanged as it was granted on September 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, PTSD, lower back pain, sleep problems, and bronchitis due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.,Specifically, the Veteran's complete medical records must be obtained, including VA treatment records since December 2014. A new VA examination is required for her knees, PTSD, low back condition, sleep disorder, and respiratory disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for bronchitis as it is related to her service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis was denied, but his claim for bipolar disorder (now claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder) was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shortness of breath, chest pain, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, bilateral leg disorder, coughing, tinnitus, and allergies, have been denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, and new evidence added since the last SSOC. The Veteran is required to provide tax returns and complete a VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, including evidence of severe headaches and dizziness related to sinusitis with headaches.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bronchitis and TDIU are being remanded due to a failure of VA to provide the Veteran with an adequate contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis has been withdrawn. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected bronchitis and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's disability picture did not more nearly approximate the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 6600, and concluded he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his migraines and mental health issues.