Asthma decisions — 2021

The Veteran's asthma with COPD was rated at 30 percent prior to July 2, 2021 and at 60 percent thereafter. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is found to have had its onset in service. The Board grants the claim for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, complete loss of sense of smell, periodontal disease, ABPA, and asthma have been dismissed as the claim for bronchitis was granted in a prior decision. The remaining claims are granted due to presumed exposure to particulate matter during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, anosmia, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury. Service connection for bilateral knee condition and bilateral foot condition was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 60 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating because PFT studies have never shown FEV-1 less than 40 percent predicted or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, and the Veteran has not been prescribed high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications to be taken daily for her asthma.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypogonadism, skin conditions (including skin cancer), asthma, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the claim for TDIU and remanded issues of service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and an increased rating for asthma. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior directives and insufficient rationale for the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma has been granted, and the case is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his death. The appellant contends that the cause of death was related to his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service, as well as whether it is at least as likely as not caused by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's pneumonia is granted as service connected. The Board has remanded several other issues for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it did not comply with a previous directive to consider an article submitted in October 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and restless leg syndrome, but denied service connection for low testosterone and memory loss and night sweats. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and asthma, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims. The Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current heart condition or asthma at any time during his appeal period. For asthma, the Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that it preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to COPD and asthma, as it is unclear whether these conditions are related to military service or asbestos exposure. The VA needs to obtain a medical opinion regarding this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development to determine if his diagnosed respiratory disorders are related to service, including stress associated with in-service events.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression. Additional steps are needed to verify the inservice injury that led to his current condition.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify stressors.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify the inservice injury.,The Veteran's asthma is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was diagnosed while in service and whether any increase in severity is due to his service-connected ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to verify stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for further examination regarding the Veteran's migraine condition.