Asthma decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected upper respiratory infection/chronic bronchitis with asthma and grants this claim.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected due to in-service exposure during his deployment in Afghanistan, with a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Veteran's asthma with sleep apnea has not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's asthma disability rating is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, including as secondary to asbestos exposure, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim.

The Veteran's claims for sleep disorder (narcolepsy), sinus disorder, left arm disorder (shoulder), left ankle disorder, and respiratory disorder (asthma) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a respiratory disability other than asthma and TDIU due to incomplete development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's asthma was granted a 30% disability rating from January 6, 2017 onwards.,His migraines were denied as not warranting any compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for a more detailed opinion regarding whether asthma began during service.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for anemia, a heart disability (claimed as angina), and dry eye disability are remanded.

The Veteran's asthma is presumed to be related to his service in Southwest Asia due to exposure during the Persian Gulf War, and he was diagnosed with asthma prior to December 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of CAD, as well as TDIU due to the Veteran's failure to provide necessary private treatment records. The case is now pending again with instructions to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinusitis, asthma and shortness of breath, and headaches due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of medical opinions addressing the Veteran's theories of exposure.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from January 9, 2017, through March 13, 2017. The criteria for entitlement to a TDIU were met due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asbestos-related pulmonary disease caused or aggravated his asthma, as well as if any symptoms of asthma can be separated from his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's asthma was caused by his exposure to particulate matter while serving in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for asthma is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's asthma is presumed service connected due to exposure to burn pits during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and asthma have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 28, 2012. Effective December 5, 2013, the Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obesity, which is a substantial factor in causing sleep apnea. The Veteran was asked to provide a copy of an article referenced by hyperlink in the April 2022 appeal brief.