Asthma decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine arthritis disc disease with spondylosis, bronchial asthma, radiculopathy right lower extremity, and radiculopathy left lower extremity, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and COPD due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions. The case is sent back for further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for asthma due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, a gunshot wound to the right thigh, and bronchial asthma, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his mental impairments.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right foot/toe disorder and a right shoulder disorder due to outstanding service treatment records.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including VA examinations to evaluate the current severity of service-connected asthma and back disabilities. The Veteran's claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, finding that the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current asthma and his period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease due to trauma, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder pain, bilateral knee condition, emphysema with asthma, and sleep apnea have been remanded by the Board.,The appeals are currently pending before the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, tremors (initially claimed as stroke residuals), sinusitis, respiratory disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and right hip disability are all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and her military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner's opinions on the causes of migraines and tremors were inadequate. The examiner did not address the Veteran’s lay statements about symptoms during and since active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition is denied. The initial rating for GERD from October 25, 2016 to October 9, 2019 was granted at 10 percent and increased to 30 percent starting October 10, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and cannabis abuse is not rated in excess of 70 percent. The rating for asthma remains unchanged. The left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and medical inquiry into the appellant's claim of being a helpless child due to her health conditions, specifically asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy in the left lower extremity (left foot), asthma, and right shoulder arthritis. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of a current disability and no presumption or secondary theory was applicable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected middle finger disability, migraine headaches, and asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional development of VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence to support a finding that his current lung disability is related to his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for asthma. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not first manifested during service or due to a service-connected disability, while his asthma may be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the September 2012 VA examination and July 2019 addendum opinion are inadequate for adjudicative purposes, necessitating a remand to obtain new evidence and opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.,VA examinations were inadequate and new VA examinations are required for both knees.

The Veteran's MDD with PTSD is rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, requiring daily inhalation of bronchodilator therapy.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, indicating very frequent prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bronchial asthma with obstructive sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions required daily use of systemic high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications, and separate evaluations were not allowed under VA regulations.