Asthma decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the hands and respiratory issues, all related to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran was not provided a DRO hearing as requested.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and asthma. The issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his sleep apnea, as well as whether obesity caused or aggravated by these disabilities is a substantial factor in causing sleep apnea.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the issue of service connection for asthma can be resolved. The Veteran's claim will be remanded to allow for a VA examination and consideration of his contentions regarding secondary service connection, including potential aggravation by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete VAMC treatment records, inadequate VA examinations, and other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further evaluation by a VA doctor.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory condition. The Veteran's claim for respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, is being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including asthma, ulcer (claimed as an ulcer of the antrum), chest pain, bunions with hammertoes in both feet, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and defective vision. The Board found that these conditions did not have their onset during active duty or were not related to any injury sustained during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the July 2019 VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma. The examiner did not adequately explain the prevalence of OSA among patients with different levels of asthma and did not address the impact of asthma on the severity of OSA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and migraine headaches, as well as her TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection as it arose from her service in Southwest Asia. However, the right and left foot hallux valgus were denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the current asthma disability is linked to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (fibromyalgia, chronic diarrhea with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and asthma) make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residual facial scar with numbness secondary to skin cancer of the right temple and asthma were denied. The claim for choroidal melanoma, left eye was remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma and COPD render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence, including failure to address relevant DBQs and VA treatment records. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct new examinations per Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017), issue an adequate SSOC, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claim for SMC AA/HB is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing her need for aid and attendance or housebound status based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, right knee disability, left knee disability, lower back pain, and left lower extremity pain due to a lack of VA examinations. The appellant contends that his disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, nasal problems, sleep apnea, respiratory disability (to include asthma and COPD), right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, left upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, PTSD, and social anxiety due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear and unmistakable aggravation.