Asthma decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his respiratory disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability as secondary to his service-connected costochondritis, finding that there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between his current respiratory disabilities and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure during the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran's left hip disability and residuals of a flash burn injury to the left eye, including headaches, are remanded for further development.,Service connection for these conditions will be reconsidered based on additional evidence or examination.

The Board has denied service connection for obesity and remanded the remaining issues related to hiatal hernia, GERD, esophagitis, gastritis with dysphagia, hemorrhoids, ganglion cyst, right hand, asthma with chronic cough, lymphadenopathy, granulomatous disease, and pilonidal cyst.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for asthma, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased disability ratings for bronchitis and bronchial asthma, as well as for perennial rhinitis. The issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss (secondary to right ear hearing loss and tinnitus) and cervical spine disability (secondary to lumbar spine disability) are also being remanded.

Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for sinusitis is denied.,Entitlement to a rating of 100 percent for asthma prior to February 15, 2022 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for asthma has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure and secondary alopecia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the asthma, left ear hearing loss, PTSD service connection, Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility, right ear hearing loss rating, and Aid and Attendance issues. The Veteran's SSA records are to be requested, and he is to undergo VA examinations to address his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, right hand disability, left leg disability, sinusitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, and hypertension. The effective date of the grant of service connection for left shoulder disability was set at December 22, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for sinusitis, asthma, and bronchitis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The appeal of an entitlement to service connection for Type II Diabetes is dismissed. The appeals of the other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bronchiectasis with asthma is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claim must be reconsidered after obtaining clarification on whether the Veteran's cardiopulmonary complications and respiratory failure are related to his service-connected bronchiectasis with asthma.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis (claimed foot condition), left ankle nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, right ankle nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and left knee nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to lack of relevant disabilities.

The Board has granted TDIU for the period from December 16, 2018 onward. However, it denied TDIU for the period prior to December 16, 2018 due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for IBS, Costochondritis, Asthma, and PTSD were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 30% for IBS was maintained. A compensable rating for Costochondritis was not granted due to the absence of symptoms. The Veteran's asthma met criteria for a 10% rating but did not warrant higher ratings based on FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC results. For PTSD, the Veteran received a temporary 100% rating from September 21, 2017, and a permanent 50% rating effective January 24, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and asthma, as related to the Veteran's exposure to volcanic ash during his military service.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as a presumptive disease associated with exposure to burn pits and other toxins under the PACT Act. Service connection for sarcoidosis remains pending.