Asthma decisions — 2014

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disorder due to his withdrawal. Service connection is granted for asthma and hair loss (alopecia areata) as incurred in service, but not for headaches or initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of COPD and asthma are related to his service-connected asbestosis, which is presumed due to wartime exposure in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for these respiratory disorders is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are also being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for asthma and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, but the case is remanded to determine if the Appellant's March-April 2002 National Guard service qualifies as full-time duty under federal law.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his asthmatic bronchitis, previously evaluated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional information regarding employment.

The Veteran's OSA is found to be aggravated by his service-connected asthma, and thus secondary service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, hypertension, a respiratory disability including lung nodules, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma, kidney cysts, and skin cancer due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Board has denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence. The additional evidence received does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran suffers from a respiratory disability and whether it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional examination to determine if the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current lung disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's lung disorder, claimed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, asthma, and asbestosis, including as due to asbestos exposure during service, is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent disability rating for bronchial asthma and emphysema has been denied as the evidence does not show that his disability increased in severity prior to October 10, 2006.

The Veteran's currently demonstrated asthma with mild COPD is shown to be etiologically related to his active military service in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his VA treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's asthma is not service connected, and does not find a causal relationship between his asthma and his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, respiratory disorders (to include bronchial asthma and sarcoidosis), lumbar arthritis with disc disease, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.