Asthma decisions — 2017

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent prior to July 6, 2016. Beginning July 6, 2016, the Veteran is now rated at 60 percent for his bronchial asthma. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the propriety of reducing her asthma evaluation from 100% to 60% effective March 1, 2010.

The Veteran's asbestosis with bronchial asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either Diagnostic Code 6602 or 6833.

The Veteran's service connection claim for respiratory disability, including ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, methanol and phenol exposure, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between these exposures and her current respiratory condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and asthma with COPD and OSA have been granted. The effective dates are September 4, 1998.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting asthma did not permanently worsen during his service, and thus denied service connection for asthma.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, which could impact his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a respiratory/lung disorder. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's asthma, as her condition may have worsened since the last examination in January 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, acute respiratory disease, asthma, and bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her current bronchitis and asthma.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected right maxillary sinusitis.,The claim of reopening the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma was also denied. The Board found no new and material evidence presented.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting asthma was not aggravated by his active duty service, but denied service connection for COPD and emphysema as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30% prior to November 4, 2009 and at 60% until May 21, 2015. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic lung disability (asbestosis, COPD, and asthma) is being reviewed.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not caused by exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune or due to service-related environmental hazards. The opinion concluded that his COPD was not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was denied as there is no current diagnosis of asthma in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchiolitis obliterans with exercise induced asthma is rated at 60 percent since October 1, 2013. The rating reflects the need for intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids due to exacerbations.

The Veteran's PTSD and asthma were granted initial ratings of 50% and 60%, respectively, effective June 30, 2006. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's asthma with aspergillosis was granted a 10 percent extraschedular rating in addition to the scheduled 50 percent evaluation, resulting in an overall 60 percent disability rating. The TDIU claim remains pending due to conflicting evidence regarding her employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his knee disabilities, chronic sinusitis, bronchial asthma, and sleep apnea.