Citation Nr: 21010140 Decision Date: 02/24/21 Archive Date: 02/24/21 DOCKET NO. 14-41 116A DATE: February 24, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asthmatic bronchitis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from June 1976 to August 1976. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). This matter was remanded in March 2019, in order to obtain an VA examination and opinion. The Board asked that the examiner to respond to the following questions: (1) Did the Veteran’s asthma worsen or increase in severity during service (2) If so, was the worsening or increase in severity due to the natural progress of the disease (3) is any current respiratory disability related to the aggravation of the Veteran’s asthma or anything else during his military service In November 2019, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current respiratory disorder. The examiner was not asked the questions as posed by the Board in the remand instructions. Instead, the examiner was asked whether the Veteran have a diagnosis of (a) respiratory disorder to include asthmatic bronchitis that is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) incurred in or caused by (the) respiratory disorder to include asthmatic bronchitis during service? The November 2019 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s current lung condition which existed prior to service is less than likely related to or aggravated by his active duty service. The examiner indicated that the Veteran’s respiratory condition that progressed to COPD was evident at age 13. The opinion is inadequate because the examiner did not provide opinions requested by the Board. In June 2020, the Veteran was provided another VA examination in which the examiner opined that the Veteran’s asthma clearly and unmistakably preexisted service. The examiner then opined that the Veteran’s asthma was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service because there was no evidence of permanent worsening of asthma beyond the natural progression of the disease. See June 2020 VA examination opinion, pg. 3. However, the examiner was to address asthmatic bronchitis, and whether it clearly and unmistakably pre-dated service, and if so, whether it was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service beyond the natural progression of the disease. See May 2020 VA Examination Request, pg. 1 (“Was the Veteran’s respiratory disorder, to include asthmatic bronchitis (which clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service) aggravated beyond its natural progression by military service during service?”). The June 2020 examiner only addressed asthma and did not address asthmatic bronchitis. Therefore, the examination is incomplete for adjudication purposes. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). Therefore, for these reasons, a remand is needed to obtain an addendum opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion. After reviewing the record, the examiner should answer the following questions: (1) Did the Veteran’s preexisting asthmatic bronchitis worsen or increase in severity during service (2) If so, was the worsening or increase in severity due to the natural progress of the disease (3) Did any current respiratory disability, to include COPD and emphysema, have its onset in service or is otherwise related to the Veteran’s service to include related to the aggravation of the Veteran’s asthmatic bronchitis. The examiner’s attention is drawn to the August 1976 in service medical board report showing a diagnosis of asthmatic bronchitis that pre-existed service. The Veteran has also diagnosed with emphysema and COPD since service. K. J. ALIBRANDO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board K. McKenzie, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.