The Board granted service connection for asthma and rhinitis, both presumed to be related to exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection was denied for sinusitis due to a lack of evidence supporting a current disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's asthma and rhinitis are presumptively related to fine particulate matter exposure, warranting service connection absent implementation of the PACT Act and particulate matter amendments. However, there is no competent evidence of a current disability of sinusitis.
- Claimed conditions
- asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2024
- Citation
- A24065295
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
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