Asthma decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory disability (asthma and COPD), back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, headache disability, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, and voiding dysfunction are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including asthma, bilateral hearing loss, ankle and elbow disabilities, knee disabilities, hypothyroidism, and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung condition, prostatic hyperplasia, skin rashes, and head acne due to inadequate opinions regarding presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and effective date claims due to incomplete medical records and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and respiratory disorders including bronchitis and asthma, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma has not resulted in the required criteria for a higher disability rating, and therefore, a rating in excess of 60 percent is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,There is no evidence of an in-service event or disease related to her bilateral eye disorder. Service connection is denied.

The Board has found that additional and relevant medical evidence was received into the record since the December 2018 Statements of the Case. As a result, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's asthma may be related to his service-connected tuberculosis residuals, but needs further clarification and evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, asthma, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, hypertension, and heart condition have been dismissed due to the absence of a case or controversy.,Entitlement to service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with a 10 percent rating, asthma with a 30 percent rating, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve of bilateral lower extremities with a 40 percent and 20 percent ratings respectively.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his service-connected asthma are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Specifically, a medical examination is required to determine if there is a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bronchial asthma is denied as his pulmonary function test results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied an effective date prior to December 12, 2017 for the grant of service connection for asthma and denied a higher initial rating for bronchial asthma.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate response in a previous VA addendum opinion regarding whether service-connected symptoms and diagnoses caused latent asthma.

The Veteran's claims for separate ratings for asthma and sleep apnea, as well as hiatal hernia and GERD, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 30% rating for hiatal hernia with GERD effective December 4, 2014, and a 60% rating since January 23, 2020. An initial compensable rating for esophagitis was not granted.

The Veteran's asthma and sleep apnea are currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating under DCs 6602 and 6847. The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating or earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for asthma due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current asthma diagnosis is related to her service.,Service connection for a digestive disorder, other than GERD with gastritis (IBS) and bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes syndrome) are denied as there is no probative medical evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and the need for a clarification addendum opinion regarding the pre-existence of asthma and its aggravation during service.