Asthma decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was reopened and granted. Service connection for a right knee disability, to include a scar, was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and hiatal hernia, but remanded the issue of sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for splenectomy and sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and right knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bunion formations was reopened and granted, but the condition is not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and low back disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service. The Veteran's claims were based on potential asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, hemorrhoids, hearing loss, flat feet, asthma, sleep apnea, and acid reflux due to outstanding VA treatment records being needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 60 percent for bronchial asthma has been denied. The Board found that his FEV-1 results were not less than 40 percent predicted, and he did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating based on his FEV-1 results or attacks with episodes of respiratory failure. His daily use of inhalational bronchodilator therapy was sufficient to warrant a 60 percent rating under DC 6602. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for further development of employment history and SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma did not have its onset in service, was not chronic or continuous during service, and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. Therefore, the claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current COPD is related to his previously diagnosed asthma, and whether it is at least as likely as not that the respiratory disorder had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma, COPD and lung nodules is remanded due to the need for verification of service in the Southwest Asia theater. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's asthma has worsened since his last VA examination in March 2017, and he needs to be reexamined to reassess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for obstructive ventilatory defect with asthma and bronchial spasms prior to May 15, 2015 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 60 percent for asthma with COPD from May 15, 2015 was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.

The Board has dismissed the issue of retroactive payment of disability compensation benefits in an amount greater than $64,838.10 and has remanded for issuance of a statement of the case on the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for right shoulder calcific tendinitis.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent since March 12, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating for his asthma and also denied service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's causes of death are related to his service-connected residuals of a resolved left pneumothorax.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a stomach disorder and respiratory condition were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, nor any in-service onset or relationship to active duty.,Service connection for the right ring (or little) finger limitation of motion claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's pulmonary disorder, including asthma. An additional medical examination is needed to determine if service connection can be established.