Asthma decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for respiratory conditions, right ankle or foot disabilities, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted, and the claim for asthma is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to bronchial asthma, finding that the evidence did not establish a causal link between the disability and his death. The decision was based on the opinions from medical professionals and the lay statements.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding an alleged in-service assault. The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for psychiatric, back, and asthma disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder (asthma) as these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's asthma and fibromyalgia have been granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as asthma, is granted service connection. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for sleep apnea, asthma, left ear hearing loss, and TDIU prior to March 7, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema as secondary to asthma, finding that there is no current diagnosis of emphysema and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypothyroidism due to her withdrawal of the appeal. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's asthma with sarcoidosis is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6602. The Board denied both a higher rating and separate ratings for asthma and sarcoidosis due to lack of evidence of required criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric condition, asthma, and bilateral leg cramps. The issues are being returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia is currently rated at 30 percent, effective since June 1992. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's bronchial asthma has required intermittent inhalational therapy and did not meet the criteria for a higher 30 percent rating based on FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC percentage.

The Veteran's neck, eye, asthma, left ankle, and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded for further development.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current neck disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's asthma is secondary to his service-connected chronic bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with emphysema contributed to his death from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Appellant submitted new evidence and requested a second opportunity for VA to obtain a report by the County Medical Examiner who prepared the Veteran's death certificate.

The Veteran's asthma, PTSD with depressive disorder and opioid use disorder, and TBI ratings are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory disorders, including COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, and/or bronchitis, due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The case requires further development as the March 2020 VA examination is not fully adequate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added to the claims file, including VA outpatient records. The issues of service connection for teeth issues, shoulder condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, right foot (pes planus), limitation of flexion right knee/leg, gout (claimed as painful joints), generalized body aches, skin disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent allergies, sleep apnea, bilateral hand disability, sinus disability, and asthma are remanded for further development.