Asthma decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service is not considered qualifying for nonservice-connected death pension due to his service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Guerilla and Combination Service, which does not meet VA requirements.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a VA medical examination regarding whether his service-connected disabilities caused wear and tear on his clothing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability are addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for asthma and cervical spine disorder due to incomplete development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty training.

The Veteran's left knee disability is related to service and has been granted. The psychiatric and asthma claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for asthma and entitlement to an increased rating for a gastrointestinal disability. The case is now pending with appropriate action.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for further development and an addendum VA opinion to determine if it was aggravated during service. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for various knee conditions, arthritis, and Bell's palsy. Additionally, the Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammer toe, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, left ankle arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and hepatitis C. The appeal is being remanded to allow for a new hearing before a different Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found no causal connection between the Veteran's mixed obstructive and restrictive airway disease (claimed as asthma) and his service, including exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The examiner opined that it was not at least as likely as not due to in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches are related to his military service and thus warrant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification on specific dates of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service. The appeal will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's asthma has required daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, with FEV-1 between 73 and 94 percent of predicted. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include asthma, and is now considering service connection for a pulmonary disability other than asbestosis. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether any current pulmonary disability(ies) are related to service, including herbicide exposure.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. You will be scheduled for a local VA hearing.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 60 percent evaluation for service-connected asthma, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to support a reduction.

The case is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities affect her ability to work, either individually or in aggregate. The AOJ will then re-adjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory asthma is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he currently has this condition and its etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus and Parkinson's disease are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, while asthma is presumed due to noise exposure. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise for these claims.

The Board has determined that asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.