Asthma decisions — 2019

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left shoulder condition and has remanded his claim for service connection of asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection. The claims for PTSD, lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease, TBI, migraine headaches, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and bronchitis, and their relationship to his service-connected PTSD with anxiety.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, arthritis/gout, skin disorder (basal cell carcinoma), supraventricular arrhythmia (atriial fibrillation), and psychiatric condition (depression and anxiety) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella and granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee arthritis. The claims for service connection for CFS, left knee disorder, diabetes mellitus (DM), glaucoma as due to DM, and asthma were all denied.

The Veteran's asthma disability was reduced from a 100% to a 60% rating, effective June 1, 2018. The Board restored the 100% rating for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his right lung sarcoidosis. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's asthma was related to radiation exposure or secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis, nor could it be established as directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for restricted lung disease (COPD and bronchial asthma) has been withdrawn. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury, left knee degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and migraine headaches have all been granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for left knee degenerative joint disease has been granted. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and migraine headaches have all been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals do not meet the criteria for service connection due to insufficient evidence of significant cranial or neurological pathology consistent with a TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pulmonary disabilities and fatigue-related disabilities due to service, including consideration of all evidence of record and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for fibromyalgia prior to December 13, 2010 is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of assigning separate ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it was aggravated by his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, including as secondary to granulomatous disease or due to tuberculosis in service. The case is being returned for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (allergies and/or asthma), right ankle disability, and left ankle disability due to inadequate examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma and calcified granuloma of the left lung; increased rating for ischemic heart disease; and TDIU. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his respiratory conditions and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the asthma claim due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding its onset and etiology, including consideration of the Veteran's lay evidence. The sarcoidosis claim is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma, hemorrhoids, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to service-connected asthma. The VA will request additional medical opinions regarding the use of corticosteroids in asthma treatment, the reliability of PFT results, the severity of hemorrhoids, and the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, PTSD, bronchial asthma, COPD, bilateral sciatica, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not having been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their relationship to his cause of death, including a potential link to radiation exposure in service.

The Veteran's asthma was found to have become manifest during service and has persisted since, allowing for the reopening of his claim. Service connection is now granted.