Asthma decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a finding of entitlement to TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for extraschedular individual unemployability prior to January 18, 2021 is remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to consider an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 11, 2010 for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions and exposure history. The Veteran is required to provide more information about his claimed asbestos exposure, and a VA examiner must provide an opinion on the etiology of his diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected asthma has been dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development on service connection claims and an initial rating for bronchial asthma. The effective dates for TDIU, special monthly compensation, and DEA benefits are also being considered.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, asthma, and bronchitis. Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's conditions are considered to be more likely caused by her history of chronic smoking rather than her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to her service-connected asthma. The Veteran needs a new examination and opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's asthma has resulted in FEV-1 of greater than 80 percent predicted and FEV-1/FVC of greater than 80 percent, without requiring intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy. Therefore, the claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected asthma is denied.

The Veteran's asthma, right hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, right index finger condition, left wrist disorder, RUE CTS, and LUE CTS are all being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his PFT results.

The Veteran's asthma, emphysema, and COPD are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant withdrew his request for a higher rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma as secondary to his service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett's esophagus, finding that there was no causal relationship between the asthma and any in-service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbosacral disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and asthma due to unclear medical opinions regarding their etiology and potential aggravation by service. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis, due to asbestos and/or herbicide exposure or as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions and the need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 3, 2022, finding that there was no reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bronchial asthma, thoracolumbar spine disorder, tinnitus, and cervical spine disorder, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 22, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and determining the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory condition. The appeal is related to service connection for a respiratory disability due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and/or asbestos exposure.