Asthma decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent disabling for service-connected bronchial asthma with obstructive sleep apnea, including whether a separate evaluation is assignable for obstructive sleep apnea, has been remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's asthma on a direct basis, finding that her symptoms began during active-duty service and have persisted since.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and OSA due to inadequate opinions regarding his exposure to TCE, asbestos, and herbicide agent in service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a pulmonary disability, including asthma and COPD, due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted, with the presumption of service connection based on exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Somalia. The effective date is August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's challenges to the validity of his overpayment amount are granted, reducing it from $1,471.58 to $1,451.28.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or aggravation.

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the service-connected persistent asthma and eosinophilic asthma from October 8, 2019, to January 5, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as they are not secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims for PTSD, asthma, allergies, and service connection due to a withdrawal of appeal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied effective dates prior to the ones requested.,The Veteran's claim for bladder incontinence and bowel incontinence, as well as hammer toes, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected Asthma and remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of asthma and allergic rhinitis during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and were not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the evidence persuasively weighs against finding that hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.,The Veteran's asthma was not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the evidence persuasively weighs against finding that asthma is related to service.

The Veteran's current respiratory disability, including asthma, is found to have onset during her active service and the Board has granted direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of asthma. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for asthma, and service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea. Other claims were remanded due to lack of STRs and Reserves records.

Service connection for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted. Service connection for a bilateral heel/ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension (HTN) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a respiratory disability, including bronchitis.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent from December 10, 2019 onwards. The rating is granted.