Asthma decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, muscle pain, respiratory condition, gastrointestinal condition, and migraine headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal link to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's asthma may be related to her service-connected allergic rhinitis, but needs further evidence and a medical opinion to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn during the October 2017 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a respiratory condition (claimed as asthma) have been reopened due to new and material evidence.,The remaining issues, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders, are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchial asthma, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty with the National Guard in 1990 or 1991. The claim is based on direct evidence of a current disability and its onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for Asthma with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's respiratory disorder had its onset during military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service, or if it is aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a VA examination to clarify the diagnosis and determine if it is secondary to her service-connected bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied. The claim for asthma is also denied. A rating of 30 percent for vertigo is granted, effective from the date of grant of service connection. An initial rating of 10 percent for migraines is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for exercise-induced sinus tachycardia and an initial compensable rating for lumbar DDD due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran must undergo additional VA examinations to determine if her current diagnoses are related to her military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, neuropathy, bronchial asthma, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis and asthma, finding no objective medical evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at various levels of disability over the years, with some periods receiving higher ratings than others. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted and others denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's current asthma is related to his in-service diagnosis of bilateral hilar adenopathy with pulmonary infiltrates, compatible with sarcoidosis stage II. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and asthma as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service and granted. The cases of rhinitis, asthma, skin disability (including as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder), and right foot fungus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for hypertension and asthma have been denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer has been granted, but the case is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer (on de novo review) is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee DJD and asthma, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension have not been addressed due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that her pre-existing respiratory condition (asthma) did not worsen during service, and her headaches were not related to a service injury or event.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, neck pain, bilateral ankle and lower leg pain, bilateral knee pain, shin splints, hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory condition (to include asthma), and skin condition (to include eczema and dermatitis). The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.