Asthma decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for asthma due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining private medical records related to the Veteran's exposure during her deployment. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The appeal addressing the propriety of the proposed severance of service connection for asthma is dismissed. The appeal regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and asthma. The Veteran's asthma is denied as there is no evidence it began during or was caused by his active service.

The Veteran's asthma and sarcoidosis were granted service connection on a direct basis effective July 19, 2016. The Board found that an earlier effective date of July 19, 2016 is warranted due to the RO's error in using the PACT Act effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.,The Veteran's respiratory disability (asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis) is granted based on exposure during active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings were denied. The appeal for PTSD was withdrawn, asthma/shortness of breath was denied, chronic sinusitis was denied, and the Veteran's TBI-related conditions were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty service.,There was insufficient evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities (asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea) and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for sleep apnea syndrome with bronchial asthma has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board hearing.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection in all five issues, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of respiratory disability (including COPD and asthma), chest pain disability (including costochondritis), and right shoulder arthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for asthma is denied as the evidence does not show that it was factually ascertainable that her disability increased in severity within one year prior to her November 15, 2024 claim.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's symptoms first manifested in service and have persisted since service separation. The decision is based on lay evidence of persistent symptomatology during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need of personal care services, and his PCAFC request was denied. The Board finds that the AOJ did not provide proper notice and reasoning for the denial, and thus remands the case to obtain a new determination based on updated regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability meeting the threshold set by VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for a vision loss disability is denied due to lack of competent evidence identifying a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is in dispute due to a lack of private medical records, and thus the case must be remanded to obtain these records and provide an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for service-connected asthma was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his asthma had worsened to warrant a higher rating prior to April 4, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to burn pits during military service.

The Veteran's appeal for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as she withdrew her claim.,Service connection for asthma is granted pursuant to the PACT Act, presuming exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma, COPD, and OSA, finding no evidence of such disabilities during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to December 19, 2022 and from December 19, 2022 to November 14, 2023. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.