Asthma decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease including hypertension and asthma due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records from SSA, specifically copies of the Veteran's application for benefits and the SSA decision. They are also required to seek an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and asthma.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, mood depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, asthma, and bilateral leg cramps due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records, arranging for medical examinations, and determining the etiology of each condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's asthma, which was not preexisting service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a breathing condition, low back disability, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and asthma due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing asthma was not aggravated during his active duty.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives, and additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims. This includes verifying Southwest Asia service during the Persian Gulf War and providing in-person examinations for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his asthma.

The Veteran's OSA with asthma alone prevents him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, qualifying for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis. Additionally, he has other service-connected disabilities that combine to be at least 60 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted a rating of 30 percent effective October 9, 1997.,PTSD service connection is denied prior to November 12, 2012.,TDIU is granted with an effective date of March 8, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and asthma, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of all theories raised by the Veteran and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again, including his exposure to toxins from smoke or fire.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and Asthma, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was granted. The other claims were remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to additional relevant evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, asthma, COPD, gout, and right ankle disability due to further development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorder/Asthma, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and COPD due to exposure to asbestos, fumes, and chemicals. The VA examiner is requested to provide addendum opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for asthma, left ventricular hypertrophy, and hypertension have been denied. The VA has determined that the current levels of disability do not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and inadequate rationale in the May 2022 VA examination report.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 17, 2020.