Asthma decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and pulmonary tuberculosis due to an inability to contact the Veteran regarding their status.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act, and his bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are also granted as secondary to this condition.,The Veteran's asthma and bronchitis claims are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent since April 18, 2017. The Board is remanding the case due to a lack of adequate respiratory evaluation in January 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his respiratory disability.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not involve the anatomical loss or use of both feet or one hand and one foot, nor do they cause him to be permanently bedridden or render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, including COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis, is causally related to his active service exposure to burn pits during his time in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and additional development is needed to adjudicate these claims, particularly regarding service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and COPD. The Veteran's exposure to toxic chemicals at Fort Dix may also be relevant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and nonservice-connected pension benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no authority to adjudicate these matters as they are now moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for his right hip degenerative joint disease and bursitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and OSA. The appeals for asthma, rhinitis, right knee disorder, sinusitis, and right ankle disorder are dismissed as the benefits sought have already been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of sarcoidosis and asthma for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The VA is required to provide a new examination and opinion that addresses whether the conditions are related to service, considering the Veteran's history of symptoms during service.

Service connection is granted for right ankle degenerative changes status post syndesmosis injury with open reduction and internal fixation, effective December 10, 2014.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability (asthma), low back disability, penile disability, and testicular disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions regarding her psychiatric disorder, asthma, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's skin condition (chloracne) is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.,The Veteran's heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic regurgitation, are also granted as service-connected based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has found the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) review inadequate to support the decision made, as it did not address whether the Veteran requires personal care services each time he completes one or more activities of daily living (ADLs). The case is remanded for an updated CEAT review.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagitis is granted an increased rating of 10 percent. The request to reopen the claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to jet fuels is conceded, but an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his current asthma is related to this exposure. An addendum opinion on the aggravation of sleep apnea by asthma is also required.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. GERD, sleep apnea, and breathing disorder were not found to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a direct or presumptive association between these conditions and service, including exposure to herbicide agents.