Asthma decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder, vertigo, asthma, and lumbar strain are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for each condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting asthma did not permanently worsen during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's respiratory conditions are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and COPD with bronchial asthma and bronchiectasis are currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's asthma and its relation to service.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and has remanded the case for a new VA addendum opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including his claimed service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions and further development is needed. The Veteran's respiratory conditions, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, asthma, and pneumonia, are being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with asthma and allergic bronchitis has been rated at 100 percent since April 5, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms warranted this rating due to forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1) of less than 40 percent of predicted value.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of asthma and COPD as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma due to inadequate rationale in a June 2021 VA examination and medical opinion. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with asthma has been rated at 60 percent since October 9, 2020. The appeal is denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's lung scarring with calcified pleural plaques required daily inhalational bronchodilator therapy or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication from August 24, 2015 to June 27, 2017. During this period, he did not require at least monthly visits to a physician for care of exacerbations, intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids, or outpatient oxygen therapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for respiratory disorders. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent prior to June 3, 2021 and granted a 100 percent rating as of that date.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for asthma because the preexisting asthma did not increase in severity during active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical examinations and because service connection is available on a presumptive basis based on exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to incomplete or contradictory examination reports. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Veteran's asthma and sleep disorder claims are remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2015 VA rating decision. The gastrointestinal symptoms claim is also remanded as there has not been a SOC issued for this issue.,Service connection for asthma is being remanded based on presumptive exposure to particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for sleep disorder (including obstructive sleep apnea) is remanded due to new evidence linking it to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to lack of evidence showing she was in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently bedridden due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, a compensable evaluation for left testicular varicocele with right testicular pain and tenderness, an evaluation for restless leg syndrome, and service connection for a traumatic brain injury.