Asthma decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including asthma and bronchitis.

The Veteran's asthma is found to have started during service and continues today, granting service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's asthma disability is now rated at 60 percent from April 6, 2022. Prior to that date, the rating was 30 percent.

The Veteran's asthma has improved and now only requires intermittent inhalational therapy, warranting a reduced rating from 30% to 10%. The reduction was proper as the evidence shows improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has determined that there have been deficiencies in the VA opinions and remanded the case for further development. The claim is now being returned to obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records were silent for any respiratory complaints, but there is a probable likelihood that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues, including service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for various conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues regarding vertigo, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disorder, asthma, left knee arthralgia, and right ankle condition. The case is being sent back to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's cause of death was a myocardial infarction. The Board found that his pre-existing asthma did not have its onset in service and was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence linking hypertension or heart disease to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and remanded the issue of service connection for a Respiratory Disorder (other than Asthma).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, sinusitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection due to exposure to burn pits during his military service in Southwest Asia. The Board has also expanded the claim to include other respiratory disabilities, but these are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia is denied as the evidence does not support a separate diagnosis of insomnia distinct from his service-connected depressive disorder and nonservice-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, chronic cough, and dyspnea are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 15, 2015 is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether obesity, caused by service-connected asthma and anxiety, is a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's claims of increased rating for asthma and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected asthma and whether he has a separate diagnosis of COPD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete examinations and failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's asthma, hypertension, and sleep apnea are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the VA examiner did not consider whether these conditions may be related to herbicide exposure or service-connected disabilities.,The Board is requesting additional medical records and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and asthma have been granted. The right shoulder disorder and lumbar spine disorder claims are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea, but the issues of headaches, hypertension, sinus disability (allergic rhinitis), and asthma are being remanded due to inextricably intertwined nature with the primary issue.