{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/chronic-bronchitis","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:30:09.569Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Chronic bronchitis","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1615,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":12.7,"denied_pct":32.9,"remanded_pct":52.9,"granted_on_merits_pct":27.8,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":106,"granted_pct":5.7,"denied_pct":32.1,"remanded_pct":55.7},{"year":2018,"issues":163,"granted_pct":4.9,"denied_pct":35.6,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2019,"issues":168,"granted_pct":6.5,"denied_pct":29.8,"remanded_pct":62.5},{"year":2020,"issues":145,"granted_pct":8.3,"denied_pct":31.7,"remanded_pct":57.2},{"year":2021,"issues":145,"granted_pct":16.6,"denied_pct":27.6,"remanded_pct":54.5},{"year":2022,"issues":156,"granted_pct":14.1,"denied_pct":36.5,"remanded_pct":47.4},{"year":2023,"issues":186,"granted_pct":16.1,"denied_pct":26.9,"remanded_pct":55.9},{"year":2024,"issues":198,"granted_pct":14.6,"denied_pct":24.2,"remanded_pct":58.6},{"year":2025,"issues":282,"granted_pct":16.3,"denied_pct":41.5,"remanded_pct":41.1},{"year":2026,"issues":90,"granted_pct":20,"denied_pct":36.7,"remanded_pct":41.1}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":198,"granted_pct_with":55.7,"granted_pct_without":21.8},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1177,"granted_pct_with":28.3,"granted_pct_without":25.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":233,"granted_pct_with":55.1,"granted_pct_without":20.5},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":818,"granted_pct_with":27,"granted_pct_without":28.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":415,"granted_pct_with":40.3,"granted_pct_without":23.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":59,"granted_pct_with":51.7,"granted_pct_without":26.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1262,"granted_pct_with":26.9,"granted_pct_without":31.7},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":45,"granted_pct_with":34.8,"granted_pct_without":27.6},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":88,"granted_pct_with":40,"granted_pct_without":27}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":29},{"reason":"pact act presumptive service connection","decisions":4},{"reason":"diagnosis of chronic bronchitis","decisions":3},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":3},{"reason":"evidence evenly balanced","decisions":2},{"reason":"veteran served in southwest asia","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":129},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":55},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":34},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":33},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":32},{"reason":"criteria for service connection not met","decisions":19}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040093","year":2026,"judge":"H. SEESEL","rationale":"Aggravated by service; Presumptive under PACT Act; Benefit of the doubt applied"},{"case_id":"A26039752","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL R. CASEY","rationale":"Allergic rhinitis found to be service-connected.; Positive nexus opinion from private medical professional.; No probative opinion to refute findings."},{"case_id":"A26038061","year":2026,"judge":"EMILY TAMLYN","rationale":"Private clinician found chronic bronchitis related to service and toxic exposures.; VA examiner found chronic bronchitis and chronic airway obstruction but no relationship to TERA.; Board found private opinion more persuasive due to detailed rationale and medical citations."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038160","year":2026,"judge":"COLLEEN M. GLASER-ALLEN","rationale":"December 2024 VA respiratory examination noted symptoms; Pulmonary function test results did not meet criteria for compensable rating; Evidence persuasively weighs against compensable rating"},{"case_id":"A26038404","year":2026,"judge":"CORY M. PICTON","rationale":"No current diagnosis of bronchitis; Criteria for service connection not met"},{"case_id":"A26037331","year":2026,"judge":"L. M. BARNARD","rationale":"No current diagnosis of chronic bronchitis; Service treatment records silent for complaints/treatment/diagnoses; Post-service treatment records silent for chronic bronchitis; VA examiner found no objective medical evidence for chronic bronchitis; Examiner attributed respiratory complaints to various… [truncated, 36 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}