Asthma decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing VA examinations to address the nature of the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, bilateral foot, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, and asthma disabilities due to additional evidentiary development being necessary.

The Board has decided to remand three of the Veteran's claims due to outstanding private treatment records and an inadequate VA examination for his left knee disability. The Veteran will need to provide information about his Tricare provider and orthopedic surgeon, and a new examination is required to assess the severity of his left knee condition.

The Veteran seeks SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU prior to March 31, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, to his service in Vietnam. The Veteran was exposed to toxic fumes while serving as a rocket crewman and from other incidents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied as he was employed prior to May 19, 2009 and his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable at that time.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is granted, subject to the controlling regulations applicable to the payment of monetary benefits. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for Asthma is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for asthma is dismissed because it is a freestanding claim and cannot be challenged through such means.

The Veteran's asthma is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's military service and her current condition.,The Board also denied service connection for asthma, concluding there was insufficient evidence to link the Veteran's current condition to her time in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma and hearing loss, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his asthma and the etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, and TDIU is granted.,Asthma has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, sores and lesions of the lower legs, chronic diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress, and colorectal cancer are all granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was rated at 100% since June 21, 2003. The Board also granted a TDIU claim as moot due to the 100% rating for bronchial asthma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, and a left shoulder disability due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's asthma has required daily use of systemic high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications throughout the entire appeal period, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right lung carcinoid tumor with pneumonectomy. The lung disability claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a respiratory disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between any current respiratory condition and service. The Veteran's STRs show he was treated for bronchitis, had shortness of breath during physical training, and was diagnosed with asthma shortly after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board is remanding the case to allow for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.