Asthma decisions — 2023

Service connection for asthma is granted under the PACT Act, and the issue of direct service connection remains on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, asbestosis, asthma, and COPD due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 14, 2011 for the appellant's entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records. The Board also found that a new examination is needed in several cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to service, particularly his active duty in Germany.

The Veteran's asthma and sleep apnea were denied service connection as they are not directly related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and asthma, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his combined service-connected disability rating has reached 100%, rendering the issue moot.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD and Asthma are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a high probability of exposure to asbestos during her military service, which is linked to her respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's asthma, chronic sinusitis with headaches, allergic rhinitis, right foot disability (status post bunionectomy), and bilateral hand dermatitis are all remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran also has issues related to his service-connected conditions that need clarification.

The Veteran's asthma and right shoulder osteoarthritis are granted as service connected due to exposure to burn pits during military service, with the PACT Act providing presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, diabetes mellitus, an eye disability, acid reflux, rectal bleeding, gout, herpes simplex 2, a right shoulder disability, and a left shoulder disability. The cervical spine issue is remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's asthma, including obstructive sleep apnea, is rated at 60 percent from January 31, 2012 to August 4, 2015. Service connection for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and aggravation of right shoulder rotator cuff and degenerative joint disease are granted. Service connection for right ankle degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Veteran's pulmonary disease, including his service-connected asbestos-related pulmonary disease and diagnosed asthma, has required continuous outpatient oxygen therapy since August 2015. The Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's pulmonary disease.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. Service connection is remanded for asthma, right knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, migraines, and a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD, asthma, and PAD due to herbicide agent exposure. The issue of hypertension is referred to the AOJ as it was not within the jurisdiction of the Board.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to particulate matter. Service connection for chronic bronchitis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and asthma have been reopened based on new evidence received since the August 1995 denial. Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and asthma.

The Veteran's asthma is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. The neck disability issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and various musculoskeletal issues, did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran had a solid foundation for employment based on his education and work history, despite some limitations due to his disabilities.