Asthma decisions — 2018

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection and rated at 30 percent. The issue of TDIU prior to August 18, 2016 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent schedular disability evaluation for interstitial lung disease with bronchial asthma was denied as there were no clear and unmistakable errors in the prior rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss, but granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral photophobia.

The Veteran was granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and major depressive disorder, with initial ratings of 30% and 70%, respectively. The Veteran's asthma claim was denied.,For the entire rating period, the Veteran is entitled to a 70% rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 19, 2006 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. However, it has denied his claims for service connection for COPD and a respiratory disorder to include asthma and COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma has not required at least monthly visits to a physician for required care, resulting in no episodes of respiratory failure. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his asthma and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC results.

The Veteran's asthma and sinusitis were not found to be related to his military service.,His urinary disorders, including ARF and BPH with incomplete bladder emptying/hydronephrosis, are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the representative indicating a desire to withdraw all issues related to TDIU prior to January 20, 2009 and evaluations for his knee and asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is related to his in-service injury and the Board has found that it meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by her service-connected asthma and grants service connection for COPD on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and identifying non-VA medical facility records. The issues on appeal are entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder (bronchial asthma) and an increased rating for prostatitis with right kidney stone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of actinomycosis did not result from service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent evaluation for schizoaffective disorder is granted effective February 3, 2011. The appeal on service connection and increased evaluations are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's Reactive Airway Disease (claimed as asthma) is not related to his active military service and denied the claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to June 30, 2016, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's asthma is found to be etiologically related to his active service, including environmental hazard exposure. The March 25, 2009 rating decision was found to contain clear and unmistakable error in identifying the left shoulder disability as the minor extremity.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 8, 2011. The Board found that the November 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a left ankle disorder did not contain CUE and denied reopening the claim for a left ankle disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lung disorders, including asthma and chronic interstitial lung disease, are not directly related to her military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection via aggravation as well.