Asthma decisions — 2022

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including OSA and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disability, including whether it is related to service and/or asbestos exposure. The examiner must provide a clear opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as a matter of presumptive service connection due to her Gulf War service and exposure to fine particulate matter.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and chest pain (atypical chest pain and costochondritis) based on the presumption of exposure to particulate matter during service in Afghanistan. The Veteran's current conditions are considered presumptively related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder, including asthma, was not present in service or until more than 10 years after separation from active duty. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to exposure to particulate matter and there were no objective indications of chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss, gout, a respiratory disorder other than bronchial asthma, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 50% prior to May 19, 2021 and 70% from that date. The Veteran also has a 70% rating for her service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, or if it is a separate condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's asthma, which is claimed as a chronic respiratory disorder. The examiner needs to provide a new opinion on whether the asthma is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome or undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue remains pending.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as a result of Persian Gulf War exposure, but his skin disability to include tinea pedis and dermatitis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, to include asthma and COPD is remanded due to the need for additional medical records regarding in-service hospitalization for pneumonia.

The Veteran's exercise induced bronchoconstriction was not manifested by pulmonary function testing (PFT) results showing pre-or-post-bronchodilator FEV-1 less than 81 percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 81 percent. As a result, the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death may be related to his service-connected hypertension, which is presumed to have been caused by in-service herbicide exposure. However, further medical opinion is needed to establish whether this relationship exists and if so, whether it contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability, radiculopathy (left and right lower extremities), and asthma due to additional VA treatment records being added to the claim file.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The claim for hypertension is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for asthma due to conflicting medical records and a need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, diagnosed as bronchial asthma and COPD, on the basis of substitution.,The Board has also granted service connection for gastric cancer, on the basis of substitution.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period from July 28, 2009 to January 4, 2011.