Asthma decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence is in approximate balance regarding these conditions, with the benefit of doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's asthma required intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids from September 16, 2014. The Board granted a disability rating of 60 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's asthma and mixed connective tissue disease are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions were caused by in-service occurrences.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for asthma and remanded it for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis and asthma due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives, specifically the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability, GERD, bronchitis, asthma, a right hand disability, and a right wrist disability due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for GERD is being remanded as it may be secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board also requested an opinion on whether the GERD is related to medication prescribed for his service-connected condition.,The Board has remanded the claims for bronchitis and asthma due to incomplete review of the record, including a lack of VA examinations regarding in-service asbestos exposure.,The Board has remanded the claims for a right hand disability and a right wrist disability as they may be related to already service-connected conditions. The Veteran's MOS was gas turbine maintenance, which could have exposed him to asbestos.,The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a respiratory condition, to include bronchitis and COPD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused current disabilities.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's conditions are considered to be due to natural progression over time rather than an event, injury, or disease incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum VA opinions and needs further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the severity of the Veteran's asthma.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of asthma as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 60% prior to December 6, 2018. The evidence does not show that his FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and its secondary effects, including sleep apnea, asthma, and hypertension. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case because there are insufficient service treatment records and an inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's asthma and his military service. The claim for secondary service connection due to allergies/sinusitis is also pending.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure during the Persian Gulf War. The right elbow strain, thoracolumbar spine and sacroiliac joint arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, PTSD, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain are all granted with appropriate ratings. Service connection for chest condition with pain and palpitations is denied. Service connection for left hand spasm and right hand spasm is also denied.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for asthma as it was granted in an October 2022 rating decision. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code, Montgomery GI Bill is being remanded due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with prior Board remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD and emphysema, peptic ulcer, and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD, emphysema and asthma, is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits under the PACT Act. The claim is remanded for further development regarding direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's asthma is granted on a presumptive basis related to burn pit exposure during the Persian Gulf War. Fatigue and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are denied, while direct service connection for asthma, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder other than PFB, and allergies are remanded.

The Veteran's asthma was initially rated at 30% prior to October 20, 2020 and now receives a 60% rating since that date due to the need for intermittent systemic corticosteroids.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the other issues related to hearing loss, wrist disorder, foot disorder, asthma, and COPD are remanded.