Asthma decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's asthma disability.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection with a 60% rating effective November 16, 2016. The Veteran previously had intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic corticosteroids which warranted the 60% rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected asthma and/or sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical opinion to clarify the Veteran's current respiratory diagnoses and determine if any pre-existing sinusitis, hay fever, or asthma were aggravated during service. The issues of TDIU prior to June 15, 2011 and SMP based on need for regular aid and attendance are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the respiratory condition claim.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure to smoke and chemical fumes during military service.,For the lumbar spine disability, a higher rating prior to February 3, 2020 was denied. From February 3, 2020 onwards, the claim for an increased rating remains in denial.

The Veteran's 100% rating for asthma is restored effective March 1, 2017. The Veteran also qualifies for a certificate of eligibility for special home adaptation grant (SHA).

The Veteran's asthma disability is currently rated at a 30 percent rating from July 14, 2017 to the present. The Board found that her asthma requires daily treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for additional consideration due to new evidence and contentions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and asthma, as well as his increased disability ratings for left leg and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete VA examination records and failure to comply with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, lung condition, psychiatric disorder, and prostate problems.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and mechanical back pain syndrome is denied, as are claims for service connection for pain and numbness of the genitals (secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability) and asthma.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bronchial asthma was denied, and his TDIU claim prior to December 13, 2018, was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating for his asthma due to lack of daily use of systemic high dose corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications. Additionally, the Board determined that he was not unemployable solely due to his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The case is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, specifically regarding the Veteran's reports of numbness, pain, and functional impairments related to his hernia scar. The claim for service connection for asthma (now claimed as breathing problems) will also be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and OCD have been denied. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for asthma and service connection for an eye disorder has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s asthma does not meet the criteria for a 60% or higher rating, as his FEV-1/FVC is within the range of 56 to 70 percent predicted value. For the eye disorder, the VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not caused by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's asthma is related to his military service and whether it is due or aggravated by any service-connected disability, including PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking his current asthma to events or conditions in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was reopened and denied. The Veteran's respiratory disability was granted a 60% rating effective April 18, 2019. The right ear hearing loss issue is being remanded.