Asthma decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the claims for respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and TDIU due to inadequate examination findings. New opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and headaches is granted. The claim for GERD remains pending as it was remanded.

The appeal pertaining to the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis B is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for chronic asthma, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sarcoidosis of both lungs and heart, as well as asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service. The Board also found that the Veteran's death from myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease did not result from his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, bronchial as the evidence does not support a link to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 11, 2010, for the grant of service connection for asthma was denied. The Board found that no formal or informal communications were received by the VA indicating a request for service connection for asthma prior to August 11, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's collapsed left lung and emphysema have been granted service connection, while his sleep apnea has been denied. The issues of service connection for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and hypertension, with a focus on addressing the Veteran's in-service exposures to sandstorms and toxic gases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's restrictive lung disease, including asthma, is at least as likely as not related to his military service due to exposure to fumes during his time as a radio teletype operator.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including multiple sub-diagnoses such as restrictive lung disease, reactive airway disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes, type II.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus, the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral macular degeneration, asbestosis, and asthma must be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma disability is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has granted this rating. However, the issue of a higher rating in excess of 60 percent remains pending and must be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining an opinion regarding service connection for a respiratory disorder (to include asthma) and evaluating the Veteran's GERD with mild esophagitis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's current asthma is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD with episodic pneumonia rating has been reduced from 100% to 30%. The appeal of the reduction is remanded due to outstanding medical records. Additionally, the termination of SMC benefits is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the asthma claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present a disability picture indicating that TDIU is warranted. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against her claim for a TDIU prior to January 20, 2015.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for hypertension has been granted. The claims for service connection of asthma and an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and asthma has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection, either direct or secondary to another condition. For his asthma, the Board granted a rating of 30 percent effective from January 16, 2013 until May 10, 2016.