Asthma decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected asthma has been granted a 60 percent disability rating throughout the duration of the appeal, based on frequent exacerbations and intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Veteran's asthma, COPD, and bronchitis are at least as likely as not the result of chemical exposure during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis but denied separate disability ratings for OSA and asthma, and remanded the issues of initial compensable ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for asbestos related pleural calcifications and plaques is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of severity, including any relationship between his mild COPD and service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back disability and sinus trouble with asthma due to an undiagnosed illness, as new and material evidence has been received. The claims are now remanded for further development.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is related to his military service, as it was a pre-existing condition that began in childhood and continued during service.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for bronchial asthma from October 21, 2015 and thereafter as well as a TDIU rating prior to that date. The Veteran's bronchial asthma was rated at 60 percent since then.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for emphysema, ear problems, and asthma has been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for a head injury, rhinitis, sinusitis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and left knee/leg disability have all been granted or denied.

The Board granted service connection for asthma secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right lung cancer and granted an effective date of October 20, 2004 for depression. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding post-thoracotomy pain syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an eye disorder, a respiratory disability, and the cause of the Veteran's death due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, endometriosis, and asthma are not related to her military service.,The Veteran was diagnosed with a right knee injury in-service but subsequent VA examinations have found no link between her current disabilities and her military service.

The Veteran's applications for service connection of bronchial asthma, heart disorder, and prostate cancer were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bronchial asthma. Service connection was not granted for heart disorder or prostate cancer due to lack of probative evidence establishing a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The right ear hearing loss disability and asthma claims are remanded due to new evidence received since the final denial in February 1994. The acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD) claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods of concern, as he was able to maintain several entry-level jobs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The appeal on most of the issues has been withdrawn and is dismissed. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, upper extremities, hypertension, gout, asthma, COPD, and right ankle disability have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and allergic rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are associated with his active duty service. Service connection was denied for syphilis due to a lack of evidence linking the current condition to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's asthma was incurred during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the Ohio Army National Guard, and service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, to include asthma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service exposure to occupational and environmental hazards.