Asthma Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea with asthma was denied in a final August 2014 rating decision. The effective date of the grant of service connection is September 28, 2018, which is the date the Veteran submitted an intent to file.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, acute sinusitis, and bronchitis as there was no evidence of a current disability or causation to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased rating for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma have been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior adjudication of his claim. The Board will consider evidence submitted after September 23, 2024, for these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, mental health disorder, TBI, alopecia, headaches, TMJ disorder, insomnia, OSA, conjunctivitis, dry eye disorder, glaucoma, PFB, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, asthma, hyperthyroid disorder, hives, anemia, DM (diabetes mellitus), heart disorder, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), kidney stones, hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, varicose veins, heel spurs, pes planus, bunions, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, back disorder, RLE neuropathy, LLE neuropathy, HTN (hypertension), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), bladder disorder, ED (erectile dysfunction), prostate disorder, and gout.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on his inability to perform activities of daily living and need for supervision or protection due to symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment. The VA will now evaluate whether participation in the PCAFC program is in the Veteran's best interest.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a respiratory disability other than asthma, right shoulder disability, rhinitis, and sinusitis have been denied. The claim for GERD has resulted in a 30% rating but not higher.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral flatfoot, moderate degenerative disc disease at L1-L2 and lower lumbar spine facet joint osteoarthritis, tinnitus, unspecified anxiety disorder, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, and sleep apnea, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to her service-connected asthma and allergic rhinitis. The VA must obtain a new opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's asthma, acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression and PTSD), and sinusitis are not found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinusitis, asthma, and PTSD due to errors in obtaining treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service connection is determined to be direct.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for amnestic disorder due to encephalitis, posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression has been dismissed as the benefit sought (service connection) has already been granted in full.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter during service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for asthma secondary to a service-connected condition (rhinitis).,Service connection was also granted for the aggravation of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,Obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is granted as service connected.,Diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) secondary to PTSD is granted as service connected.,End stage renal disease status-post kidney transplant (claimed as kidney failure) secondary to diabetes is granted as service connected.,Service connection for blindness, to include light perception only, is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding potential TERA exposure.,Left knee disability is remanded due to lack of opinions on direct or presumptive service connection.,Right knee disability is remanded due to lack of opinions on direct or presumptive service connection.,Left shoulder disability is remanded due to lack of opinions on direct or presumptive service connection.,Right shoulder disability is remand due to lack of opinions on direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the Veteran's asthma and bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to provide an appropriate VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's OSA, GERD, and asthma are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's asthma had onset during active duty service and has persisted from separation. The Board granted the claim for service connection for asthma.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board granted the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection on asthma, sleep apnea, lower back injury, and left lower extremity sciatica/radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory condition is related to his active-duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.