Asthma decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, diagnosed as pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and asthma, for substitution and accrued benefits purposes. The evidence shows that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and her service-connected allergic rhinitis and asthma. The examiner is asked to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma was denied in a January 2019 rating decision. The case is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connection due to qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for GERD and gastritis with hiatal hernia is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for asthma, which will be decided on the merits.,Right (dominant) elbow arthritis, lateral epicondylitis, and tricep tendonitis are found to have their onset in service.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, asthma, sleep apnea, heart disability, and low back disability were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.,While the Veteran reported symptoms shortly after discharge from service, there is no medical evidence showing pertinent symptomatology until many years after separation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral inguinal hernia surgery residuals was denied. His claims for service connection of bilateral knee/shin conditions and back condition were reopened, but the cases are still pending as they need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issue of service connection for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis and asthma, is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disorder, to include hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's asthma is related to her reported allergic response to a smallpox vaccination during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issues include PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a stroke, bilateral lower extremity PAD, COPD, asthma, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), ratings for bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and COPD, finding that his respiratory conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of asbestos exposure or a link between COPD and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable, and the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for sleep apnea was denied.,Service connection for tinnitus and asthma were both denied, while service connection for headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining VA treatment records pertaining to the April 2011 foot surgery. The issues of temporary total rating due to right foot skin condition and service connection for asthma are now pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims, including those related to pes planus, left wrist disorder (including CUE in a prior rating decision), bilateral knee disabilities, and asthma. The Board dismissed the cases as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis is dismissed. The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to presumptive exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operation during the Persian Gulf War. The Veteran's bilateral hand and foot numbness are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, pulmonary nodule diagnoses, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic laryngitis, and benign neoplasm of sinus are remanded for further evaluation due to lack of a nexus opinion regarding their relation to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.