Asthma decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right wrist disability, sleep apnea, pulmonary disability (including asthma), and psychiatric disability are all remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a pulmonary disability, and a psychiatric disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability is remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine its etiology. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is also remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding whether service aggravated any pre-existing condition.,The right wrist disability, sleep apnea, and pulmonary disability (including asthma) claims are all remanded because of the need for further examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection, as well as issues related to verifying stressors and exposure. Additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 associated with asthma has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,Her petition to reopen a claim of service connection for exercise induced asthma is also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and denied the reduction of the Veteran's asthma rating from 50 to 20 percent, effective December 1, 2009.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a respiratory disability to include asthma, and a left knee disability to include degenerative joint disease need further review due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as a presumptive disease due to exposure to burn pits in service. However, the claim for direct service connection remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, PTSD, and IBS, are at least as likely to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of October 31, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for service-connected bronchial asthma with moderate obstructive defect, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to January 19, 2022. The Veteran will be provided information regarding his records request and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis, but the claim for service connection of asthma as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis remains pending and needs further development.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to her active duty during a drill weekend in October 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether any respiratory disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and tear gas is acknowledged, but no specific connection between these exposures and his respiratory conditions is established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma and TDIU are being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for a new VA examination. The Board will also consider the Veteran's entitlement to TDIU as it is inextricably intertwined with his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for asthma was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for dysfunctional vocal cords has been dismissed.

The Veteran's asthma and migraine headache disability are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's asthma is considered to have been incurred in service, and the Board has granted direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for COPD and asthma have been remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The VA is required to review this new evidence and issue a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's asthma and OSA have been granted service connection. Diabetes, CHF, high blood pressure, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and anxiety are also granted.,Service connection for diabetes type II (diabetes), congestive heart failure (CHF), high blood pressure, and stroke is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder and respiratory condition are related to his military service.