Asthma decisions — 2018

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding its pre-service status and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD and asthma, rating in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD, and rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma. The Veteran's sleep apnea was found less likely than not caused by or the result of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma, may have been aggravated during his active duty training in August 2011. However, due to insufficient evidence from a VA examiner regarding this claim, the case is being sent back for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing (pulmonary) disability, including asthma and COPD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a hole in the lung, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and anxiety as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding the Veteran's prescribed medications used to treat her service-connected asthma, and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective March 7, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the issues of service connection for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship with asbestosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee conditions, asthma, bowel and bladder incontinence, and sexual dysfunction due to lack of a diagnosis related to these conditions and insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis and asthma, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee strains. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), and heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure) due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma was previously denied in a June 4, 1969 rating decision. The appeal is dismissed as the criteria for CUE have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or chronic fatigue syndrome, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,For the joint condition (claimed as Gulf War Illness) and muscle condition (claimed as due to Gulf War Illness), an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether they are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity, right knee disability, left knee disability, asthma, and congestive heart failure. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for asthma with atelectasis, finding that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a 100% rating. The Veteran's condition was rated as 60% since March 16, 2012.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as COPD and asthma, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for knee, respiratory, eye, and low back disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will seek further medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, bronchitis, and asthma are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the fractured proximal joint right great toe with degenerative arthritis since July 7, 2016.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 10 percent since November 18, 2008. The Board finds that the effective date for this rating should be changed to November 18, 2008 when he was prescribed an inhaler. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of T11 vertebral compression fracture and remanded the issues of service connection for bronchial asthma and major depression with psychotic features (secondary to bronchial asthma).