Asthma decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including asthma, restrictive airway disease, and COPD. The VA examiner did not address the Veteran’s contentions of hazardous chemical exposure during service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as asthma. The Veteran's supplemental claim to reopen the previously denied claim was received in October 2010 and includes new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

Service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as the evidence does not support that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the current ratings are already at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular rating.

The Board denied service connection for Asthma, COPD (as secondary to asthma), and Sleep Apnea as the Veteran's preexisting asthma did not worsen during his two-month active duty service. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's back disorder may be related to his flat feet, but a VA opinion is needed to determine if this relationship is secondary to service. His bilateral flat feet are also under review with a need for a VA examination. For his lung condition, the Board requested additional information on asbestos exposure in service and needs further examination.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and a rating of 60 percent, but not higher, for bronchial asthma. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, dizziness, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and abdominal scars are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma and remanded the issue of determining whether his respiratory disability is related to active duty service, including exposure to chemicals in service.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, vertigo, and Barrett's Esophagus as there is no evidence of their occurrence during service or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his diabetes mellitus, asthma, sleep apnea, COPD, emphysema, PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia, coccidioidomycosis, back degenerative disc disease, and angular glaucoma claims are all REMANDED.

The Board has determined that there is new evidence sufficient to reopen several service connection claims, including for severe headaches, auditory hallucinations, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development of his records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during service are related to her current condition. The rating for asthma remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent since November 2012, but the evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating as it meets the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for asthma is remanded. The Board found the May 2018 VA examination inadequate due to its reliance on post-service medical records without considering in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for residuals of a broken middle finger was withdrawn. The claims for hyperlipidemia, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD were denied. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sinus disability, bronchitis, asthma, hemorrhoids, jock itch, skin disability of the feet (claimed as athlete’s foot), and moles were granted.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees, respiratory disorder (asthma), and sleep apnea as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected asthma. The appeals for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory disorders other than bronchoalveolar cancer, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between her current diagnoses and her in-service exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran is granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for bronchitis from September 14, 2011 and a 30 percent evaluation for asthma from February 17, 2015. Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis is also granted.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 10 percent prior to April 7, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not show a need for an increased rating based on FEV-1 or daily inhalational/oral bronchodilator therapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected asthma and/or medication taken for asthma. The VA needs to obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion.