Asthma decisions — 2021

The Veteran's asthma and calcified pulmonary plaques are granted service connection. The issues of service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and low back disability are remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for burn scars of the right and left arms, finding that the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's skin disability rating criteria.,Service connection was also denied for a right forearm disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and bronchial asthma.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, asthma, headaches, and menorrhagia with secondary iron deficiency anemia due to new evidence received since the October 2019 denial of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bronchial asthma has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected asthma and anxiety, and his sleep apnea. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing obesity as a potential intermediate step in this causal chain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for chronic sinusitis, asthma, and dermatitis. The appeal concerning pseudofolliculitis barbae has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable, and the Board granted a TDIU for the period from February 20, 2008 until July 15, 2010.

The Veteran's asthma claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his use of medications.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted a 30 percent rating. The Veteran's asthma was granted a 30 percent rating from May 31, 2011 to October 26, 2016 and denied any higher ratings thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchitis and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence of severe impairment. The claims are remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has a respiratory disability, including asthma. The VA needs to clarify this and determine if any such condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for schizoid personality disorder was denied. The rating reduction for asthma from 60 to 0 percent was found improper and a 60 percent rating is restored, effective September 1, 2021. The Veteran's TDIU status was also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and a skin condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are as likely as not caused by his exposure to burn pits during deployment.

The Veteran's asthma is presumed to have been incurred in service as it was first noted there and has continued uninterrupted since then.

The Board has determined that the July 2021 VA examination is inadequate and a new examination is required to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's asthma, as well as explain the wide variation in PFT readings since August 4, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of heat exposure and respiratory condition, finding no current diagnoses or causal relationship to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The issues of reopening and granting service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine disability, asthma, and sinus disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of sarcoidosis and asthma for further development, including a VA examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are not based on presumptions or new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that the Veteran's preexisting asthma worsened during service. Service connection is also granted for COPD as secondary to the now service-connected asthma.