Asthma decisions — 2018

The Board has restored the appellant's disability rating for asthma from 60 percent to 30 percent effective April 1, 2014.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 24, 2012, to June 30, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as COPD and asthma, did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The Veteran's current diagnosis has been established by medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, has been granted. His rating for chronic bronchitis and asthma remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma and COPD due to insufficient development, including a need for additional exposure verification and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and asthma are inadequate. The claims must be remanded to obtain new examinations with proper opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bronchial asthma was denied because he failed to report for multiple VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and retrieving any outstanding records from Walter Reed Medical Center.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is being remanded for additional development due to the possibility of increased severity since her last VA examination in March 2013.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.,The Veteran's asthma and COPD are denied as they are neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a fractured nose, and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected right hand injuries.

The Veteran's asthma is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The Board has decided that the presumptive regulations for Agent Orange exposure do not apply, and thus a direct service connection must be evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's asthma, which pre-existed a period of active duty for training in August 1994, was not aggravated during that period. Therefore, service connection for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's asthma was not incurred during active duty and is not otherwise etiologically related to military service or to any asbestos exposure therein or to any other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for extrinsic asthma has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran is also granted service connection for a respiratory disability, to include asthma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, and gout were denied as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service. The Board found that new evidence received after the initial denial was material but insufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issue of tinnitus. Service connection is denied for left arm disability, cervical radiculopathy, lower extremity radiculopathy/sciatica, bilateral hip disability, right ear hearing loss, skin disability, and asthma.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder and asthma has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, including updated pulmonary function testing.