Chronic bronchitis — all decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in response to the May 2009 rating decision was not filed within one year of the denial.

The Veteran was not rated as totally disabled for a continuous period of at least eight years prior to his death, thus the Appellant's claim for enhanced DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(2) is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, sinusitis, ulcer, skin cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The decision also notes that the Veteran's hip arthritis is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is granted as service connected. The VA will remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding chronic sinusitis, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and chronic bronchitis.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, irregular menstruation and uterine fibroids, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions, and the evidence did not support a finding that they were related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis was dismissed. The petition to reopen his claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis, a blood disorder, and diabetes mellitus were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted based on exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). The Veteran's prostate disability claim was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lung disability, including his exposure to ammonia and possible pneumonia in service. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between these factors and his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of prescription medications purchased in Pakistan is denied because the medications are not used for a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and asthma with bronchitis are found to impact his ability to work, but further examination is needed to determine if he is unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, and hypertension may be related to his military service in Southwest Asia. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to support this determination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected chronic bronchitis with COPD and OSA warrants a 100% rating, effective July 17, 2016. He also meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to additional disabilities rated at 60% or higher.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for right elbow strain, left hip sprain, bilateral knee sprain, hearing loss, seasonal allergic rhinitis, and pneumonia (claimed as bronchitis). The appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic bronchitis and found that new and material evidence had been submitted. However, the Board denied the claim as there was no evidence to support a finding that the current chronic bronchitis disability is related to service.

The Veteran's spouse was not recognized as a dependent for VA benefits until March 2014, despite the Veteran having submitted information about his marriage in 2008. The claim is denied because the necessary documentation was not received within one year of notification.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bronchitis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, but has remanded it for additional development to obtain medical records and determine if her current respiratory disorders are related to her in-service treatment or exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran is granted a 100% rating for asthma with history of chronic bronchitis as of June 10, 2017. Prior to that date, the condition was rated at 60%. The effective date will be determined based on VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report and a need for updated treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any respiratory disorder found to be present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, asthma, and a heart condition as secondary to bronchitis and asthma due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service or any link between these conditions and his current heart condition.