Asthma decisions — 2019

The Veteran's asthma is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, reflecting his FEV-1 of 75 percent predicted value.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; asbestosis; asthma; bilateral hearing loss; left shoulder disability; right shoulder disability; low back disability; left hip disability; and right hip disability are all denied. The claim for service connection of the right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for asthma is dismissed. A rating of 40 percent, but no higher, is granted for fibromyalgia throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's asthma is considered to have been aggravated by service, but the Board requires further development to determine if this aggravation was permanent.

The Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during his period of active duty, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's asthma with history of bronchitis is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6602. The effective date remains unchanged as it was granted on September 18, 2014.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's asthma, vertigo, and Barrett’s Esophagus are secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and confirming the Veteran's name change. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether COPD was related to service or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma and residuals of pneumonia, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a restoration of a 30 percent rating for asbestosis with pleural plaques and asthma, effective March 1, 2016 is granted. The claims for an increased rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for insomnia as a symptom of an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has also remanded this issue.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea, asthma, and anxiety disorders are related to service-connected asbestosis pleural plaques.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since October 16, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and Cough-Variant Asthma due to conflicting evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's asthma and emphysema/COPD claims are denied due to lack of service connection.

The Board has denied a higher rating for bronchial asthma with COPD prior to November 6, 2018. The remaining issues of increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the rating decision did not consider when she became unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities, and there is evidence suggesting she was unable to work prior to October 18, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with mechanical low back pain is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and addendum opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee condition, left knee condition, rhinitis, and respiratory condition (including asthma) are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and addendum opinion.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for VCAA notice and development regarding her employment status since 2010.,The Board requests an opinion from NARA on whether the Veteran was exposed to asbestos while stationed at Fort McClellan.,A VA examiner will provide opinions on the nature and etiology of each claimed condition, including consideration of any asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for respiratory conditions, GERD, and hypertension due to additional VA treatment records being added to his file. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's asthma is not manifested by FEV-1 of 55 percent or lower, FEV-1/FVC of 55 percent or lower, and has not required monthly visits to a physician for exacerbations or at least three courses a year of systemic corticosteroids. Therefore, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.