Asthma Board decisions

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for sleep apnea, asthma, and joint/muscle conditions. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to January 28, 2009 and at 60 percent since then. The Board denied the appeal for increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including COPD and asthma, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure or other in-service injury that could link his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a chronic respiratory disability, fibromyalgia, and esophageal polyps were denied. The case was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection is granted for IBS and atopic dermatitis, both of which are considered manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.,Service connection is also granted for asthma, with the reasoning that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asthma, was denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service. The Board found that the current asthma did not have its onset in or is otherwise related to his military service, including as a result of exposure to herbicide agents and/or pesticides.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic laryngitis, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete evaluations and failure to address secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for asthma, left lung scar, and lingular pneumonia have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions began during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for exercise induced asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her medication use and frequency of asthma attacks.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information from the Office of Surgeon General regarding asbestos exposure during service. The appellant needs a follow-up inquiry and medical opinion on whether preexisting asthma was aggravated by asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to February 19, 2020 and 40 percent from that date. The Veteran's bronchial asthma was initially rated at 10 percent effective August 1, 2011, and increased to 30 percent effective February 19, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a diabetic ulcer of the toe. The Veteran's diabetes was not shown to have had its onset during active duty or be otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent from February 26, 2010 to October 28, 2017. From October 28, 2017, the rating increases to 100 percent due to daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medications.

The Board has remanded the claims for revision of the September 2008 rating decision and entitlement to SMC based on housebound status due to procedural errors in notifying the Veteran of the July 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran’s joint pain, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, lipomas, Gulf War Illness, bronchial asthma, nasal polyps, digestive problems, hernia, and skin problems are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea with bronchial asthma and unspecified depressive disorder, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, specifically asthma, finding that the Veteran had symptoms and treatment related to allergies during service. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's asthma and bronchiectasis, as well as the aggravation by service-connected sleep apnea. The case will be reviewed with additional medical examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of asthma, COPD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to the death of the Appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma was incurred in service and is granting service connection for this condition.