Chronic bronchitis — all decisions

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.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence that has not been reviewed by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis/asthma, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left hand/wrist disability and denied service connection for respiratory/recurrent bronchitis disorder.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for melasma, chronic bronchitis, and sensorineural hearing loss have been denied as they are not earlier than November 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence or argument linking any of the claimed disabilities to service, and thus service connection for osteoarthritis, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, COPD with chronic bronchitis, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease cannot be established.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is service-connected, but her respiratory disability (chronic bronchitis and COPD) is not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran was properly found to be rehabilitated for purposes of the vocational rehabilitation program, but there is insufficient evidence to determine whether his service-connected disabilities have worsened to the extent that they preclude him from performing the duties of school paraprofessional or if the occupation is now unsuitable on the basis of his specific employment handicap and capabilities. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of headaches and a vision disability, as well as granting service connection for headaches secondary to PTSD. The increased rating claims for IBS and chronic bronchitis are remanded due to the passage of time since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's respiratory condition did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active service. The Board denied the claims of service connection for a respiratory disability, cause of death, and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma, COPD, and bronchitis, is being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations. The VA will obtain an opinion that takes into consideration the conceded asbestos exposure in-service and discusses other treatment records indicating underlying respiratory conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis/pneumonia and increased rating for asthma, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis was received on June 24, 2014. The Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denies the request.

The Board found that the Veteran's pneumonia did not originate during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied because he has not been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's COPD has been rated at 10 percent, the minimum compensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right foot conditions, low back condition, high cholesterol, bronchitis, sleep disorder, bilateral eye condition, arthritis, and sinus condition. The primary reasons are lack of in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of chronicity after discharge for other conditions, and insufficient herbicide exposure documentation.