Asthma decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he does not meet the regulatory requirement of a permanent and total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bronchitis and asthma with obstructive sleep apnea were not found to warrant a higher rating than the current 60 percent on an extraschedular basis from April 1, 2013 to November 13, 2013. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating was dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of TDIU effective November 14, 2013.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to PTSD, lumbar spine DDD, ED, and respiratory conditions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection for a respiratory disorder and TDIU prior to January 23, 2016 are both denied. The Board found that the current respiratory disorder is not causally related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to his service-connected conditions, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and bronchitis with asthma due to an incomplete record search. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, heart disability, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence. The reasons are that the Veteran failed to report to scheduled VA examinations for these disabilities.

Your service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, asthma, and pneumonia, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the full benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral ankle and lower leg disability, as well as respiratory disorder (to include asthma).

The Board denied service connection for asthma, attributing it to a lack of evidence linking the condition to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a noninitial rating in excess of 60 percent for chronic bronchitis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his pulmonary function test results, which showed FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC percentages within normal ranges.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for breathing problems (COPD, emphysema, asthma, atelectasis, lung nodule, deviated septum, nasal polyps, sinusitis) and increased disability rating for recurrent pneumothorax.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that his preexisting asthma did not worsen during service and was not related to any in-service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one needs to be scheduled for a respiratory disorder evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for payment of nonservice-connected pension benefits and special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to insufficient evidence showing he is disabled enough to require regular assistance from another person.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous directives, including a VA examination that did not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his exposure to mold and treatment for colds, coughing, and wheezing during service.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is now rated at 60 percent effective August 25, 2016. This rating will be subject to the criteria applicable to the payment of monetary benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's asthma and his service-connected disabilities, specifically his allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability and heat exposure claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's asthma and its relationship to his service, specifically whether it was aggravated by Gulf War exposure.