Asthma Board decisions

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.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is granted. His claims for PFB, hernia in testicles, pneumonia, and tuberculosis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination and lack of pulmonary function test results for asthma. The Veteran's condition is believed to be worsening.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis remains pending and will be remanded to obtain a medical opinion addressing his in-service diagnoses.

The Veteran's lung condition, including asthma and emphysema, is being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service and the condition. The examiner must consider whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition was caused or aggravated by presumed herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's edentulism with loss of bone mass (claimed as periodontal disease) is denied because it does not meet the criteria for a compensable dental or oral disability.

Service connection for asthma is granted based on exposure to burn pits during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for sinusitis is remanded as it was not adequately addressed in the previous decision.

The Veteran's asthma was evaluated at 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with FEV-1 between 56 to 70 percent predicted and daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy. The Board found that his disability picture did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 60 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), a lumbar spine disability, a respiratory disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and an eye disability are not supported by the evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection are dismissed. The Board remanded several issues including the rating of AML, hemochromatosis, and left buttocks scar.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities, right knee disabilities, left index finger arthritis, and asthma. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings have been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for reactive airway disease, claimed as asthma. The condition is found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, left elbow and forearm disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) are all being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea on a direct basis and remanded the cases of respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea), claimed as asthma, and right knee disability to include arthritis. The case is also remanded for an opinion regarding whether current sleep apnea is aggravated by service-connected migraines.