Chronic bronchitis — all decisions

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service or VA treatment, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, bronchitis, and asthma, are granted. The Board also grants a TDIU due to these conditions, given the combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issues of service connection for hyposmia, hypogeusia, bronchitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), back disorder, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic bronchitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and depression have been granted. The effective date of the grant is January 7, 2013.,Service connection has also been granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy with a rating of 10 percent effective February 26, 2016.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding bronchitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and also denied his petition for an increased rating for bronchitis. The decision did not address any exposure basis or PACT Act provisions.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis was reopened and granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a genitourinary condition, rash of the chest and groin, and liver condition are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a tongue/salivary gland disorder is denied due to lack of a causal link between service and the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder is remanded as the VA examination report did not provide an opinion on whether his current muscle tension is related to complaints in service.,The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorders (bronchitis and sinusitis) are remanded due to inadequate examination, including failure to consider the Veteran’s history of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's claim for a stomach disorder is remanded as there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal link between service and the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a headache disorder is remanded due to inadequate examination, including failure to provide an opinion on whether his headaches are related to complaints in service or a preexisting disorder that was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a causal link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 4, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and lung disability (including pneumonia, bronchitis, shortness of breath) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these previously denied claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, head injury, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, gastrointestinal problems (gastritis and GERD), bronchitis, essential benign tremor, and bladder dysfunction. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence of a current disability or a link between his in-service exposure and any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. The decision also includes a finding of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, respiratory disability, and kidney disability are all under review.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with atopic asthma and chronic bronchitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current respiratory disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating from March 1, 2011. The appeal period prior to January 28, 2011 is not considered as she was employed during that time.

The Veteran's death was caused by clostridium difficile colitis, tracheobronchitis, and COPD. The Board finds that the issue of negligence on behalf of VA doctors during treatment falls under the primary issue of entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis is found to be related to his exposure to environmental hazards during service in Southwest Asia. The claims of entitlement to an increased rating for fibromyalgia and to service connection for peripheral neuropathy are remanded.