Asthma decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), back disability, upper and lower extremity neurological disabilities, asthma, sinus disability, and rhinitis. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence showing a diagnosis of such disability for VA purposes. For the remaining issues, the Board finds that additional development is required as there are no current medical opinions addressing the etiology or relationship between any claimed disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's claims for left foot disorder, left eye loss of peripheral vision due to surgery, and respiratory disorder are denied. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and sleep apnea due to new evidence received since their previous denials. The claims are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for asthma and mixed restrictive / obstructive lung disease, as well as PTSD, were denied because there was no evidence of a service connection. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to military service or exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right hip disorders, as well as a respiratory disorder. The VA will obtain medical records and schedule examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot fungus is related to military service and granted. The issues of low back disability, right knee disability, asthma, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma is granted a rating of 60 percent, effective from April 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and melanoma with scar, as they are related to presumed in-service exposure to herbicides. The cases have been sent back for VA examinations to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for CAD are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran's service connection claims for asthma, dermatitis, hypertension, and prostate condition are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, left shoulder disability, right hip and knee disabilities, and PTSD due to new evidence suggesting service connection may be warranted. The VA will conduct additional examinations and seek an addendum opinion regarding the nature of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scars on the left hand, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, heart condition, and GERD have been denied. The VA has ordered additional examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a respiratory disability other than asthma, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, but the issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, a skin disability, and migraine headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to January 10, 2014 and now at 30 percent effective from that date. The Veteran’s patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is being remanded for further examination.,A TDIU rating is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim for the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied service connection for constipation due to Gulf War exposure, but granted service connection for hair loss (alopecia). The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for sinus infection and respiratory condition.,The Veteran's claims for shortness of breath were not fully addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information from the Veteran regarding his current treatment providers. The claims will be reviewed again based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, including asthma and COPD, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in or were aggravated by his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for exercise induced bronchospasm, but has remanded the cases of scoliosis with chronic low, mid and upper back pain and thoracic outlet syndrome due to insufficient evidence.