Asthma decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for lung disorders, including asthma and COPD, due to in-service exposure to asbestos. The case will be remanded for further examination and evidence collection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of asthma. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence that his current tinnitus disability is related to military service. Service connection for GERD was granted, with a finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service complaints and treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and lay statements regarding the onset of various conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchial asthma, a sleep disorder (including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's asthma is not service-connected as there was no diagnosis of asthma in his service records and the VA examiners concluded that his current condition did not stem from his in-service respiratory issues.,The Veteran's stomach condition, including GERD and gastritis, is also not service-connected. The VA examiners found that his current conditions were more likely related to post-service employment exposures, alcohol use, and tobacco use rather than any in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the lack of pulmonary function test results from a 2014 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating for bronchial asthma disability was denied, and the Board found that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The COPD issue is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its service connection.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory/lung disorder, finding that his lung and respiratory disorders were more likely due to smoking rather than herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral shoulder disability, respiratory condition (bronchitis and asthma), bilateral ankle disability, back disability, and neck disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to verify dates of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

Service connection for schizoaffective disorder has been granted.,The issue of entitlement to VA medical treatment for a psychosis or mental illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as service connection for schizoaffective disorder has been established.

The Board denied service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for Asthma due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma disorder and bronchitis, as well as her request for an initial compensable rating for headache disability prior to May 15, 2013, have all been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions have been dismissed as the claims were withdrawn by her in June 2013. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck condition, left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, left upper extremity condition, right upper extremity condition, and left leg condition are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, asthma, or PTSD.

The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran's OSA may be related to his service-connected conditions of deviated septum residuals, asthma, and GERD.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to his military service, including presumed herbicide agent exposure and PTSD. The TDIU claim prior to September 30, 2010 is denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss in the right ear during the appeal period.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder (rhinitis, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea), CAD, autoimmune insufficiency with orthostatic hypotension and memory problems, and hyperlipidemia is denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for bilateral knee disorder is denied as the Veteran did not step foot in Vietnam or have other qualifying service. The Board found subjective arthralgia but acknowledged the Veteran's competence to report on his symptoms.

Service connection for allergies and asthma has been granted.,The Veteran's enlarged lymph nodes are secondary to his service-connected disabilities.