Asthma Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions. The Veteran's asthma is being reviewed again for a more detailed opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, and restrictive lung disease was dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claim is now closed as there are no surviving claimants eligible for substitution.

The Veteran's service connection claim for asthma, a multi-faceted respiratory disorder, is granted due to exposure to fine particulate matter during his Gulf War service. The neck disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for benign tremors, a compensable rating for bilateral hand dermatitis, and a higher rating for asthma due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The issues of rating for right atrial enlargement, asthma, and service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea were not decided as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, and the appellant is entitled to attorney fees in full amount of 20 percent of past-due benefits awarded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for asthma as there is insufficient information regarding his in-service asthma and its progression. The AOJ must obtain missing records, including Medical Board records, and assign them to an appropriate examiner to determine if the Veteran was medically boarded due to asthma and whether it increased in severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that he was in need of such assistance primarily because of his service-connected conditions. The most persuasive evidence attributed his need for aid and attendance to a non-service-connected neurocognitive disorder/dementia.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.,Prior to March 24, 2018, the Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular criteria. After March 24, 2018, when he received a 100% disability rating for PTSD, the TDIU claim is moot.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and OSA as secondary to asthma. The Veteran's asthma is considered a continuation of symptoms noted during service, while his OSA is found to be caused by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and benefits related to his disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's hypertension, asthma, and GERD are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's service connection claims for asthma, sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis have been granted. Service connection is granted for asthma and sinusitis due to presumptive exposure to particulate matter during active duty in the Southwest Asia theatre. Service connection for chronic bronchitis remains denied as it does not fall under the presumptive conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma and GERD service connection due to a lack of VA examination, and to consider if his current conditions are related to his military service. The Veteran is also asked to undergo an examination to assess the severity of his GERD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension, knee conditions, hearing loss, mental health disorders, COPD and/or asthma, and sleep apnea. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records, verifying stressors, confirming exposure to asbestos, scheduling examinations for each condition, and determining the etiology of any diagnosed respiratory disorder and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's asthma has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma, due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards. The Veteran's lay contentions regarding the onset and continuity of his respiratory problems while deployed are not addressed by the current opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates, service connection, and increased ratings have been denied.,Service connection was granted for sleep apnea with hyperinflated lungs asthma, PTSD, GERD, and right shoulder strain on November 20, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a respiratory disability. The Veteran's reports on the onset of symptoms are deemed credible, and an addendum opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician.