Citation Nr: 18143278 Decision Date: 10/18/18 Archive Date: 10/18/18 DOCKET NO. 15-27 396 DATE: October 18, 2018 REMANDED An initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 29, 2009, and in excess of 30 percent as of that date, for asthma, is remanded. Service connection for sinusitis is remanded. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded. Service connection for migraines is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1985 to April 2008. This case comes before the Board on appeal of an April 2008 rating decision that denied service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, migraines and sciatica, and granted service connection and a 10 percent rating for asthma from May 1, 2008. During the course of the appeal, the rating for asthma was increased to 30 percent effective from October 29, 2009. The Veteran has continued to seek higher initial ratings for asthma, to include a rating in excess of 30 percent from the date of the initial grant of service connection, May 1, 2008. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran’s Law Judge at a June 2018 Travel Board hearing. 1. A rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 29, 2009, and in excess of 30 percent as of that date, for asthma is remanded. At his June 2018 hearing, the Veteran asserted that asthma has increased in severity since the Veteran was last examined by VA. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of asthma. 2. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded 3. Service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is remanded. The Veteran further testified that he has current sinusitis and allergic rhinitis that are related to service or service-connected asthma. He indicated that he undergoes treatment for these disorders. He described symptoms that started or intensified following his in-service prolonged and direct exposure to plastic melters, burning hazardous trash and waste. Sinusitis was noted on the entrance examination to service, so it is essentially argued that it has been aggravated by these things. Rhinitis was treated in service on multiple occasions, but was considered seasonal and/or acute. However, he testified that he has continued prolonged symptoms. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has opined on these theories following a review of the entirety of the record. 4. Service connection for migraines is remanded. 5. Service connection for sciatica is remanded The Veteran further testified that he has current migraines and sciatica related to service or service-connected back disability. He manages to work despite his sciatica inasmuch as he has a sit down job making ID’s, but he has to avoid any appreciable lifting that makes the sciatica painful. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has opined on these theories following a review of the entirety of the record. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records as well as those from Tripler Army Medical Center. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected asthma. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The examiner must opine whether any current sinusitis or rhinitis is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including exposure to plastic melters, burning hazardous trash and waste discussed in his testimony. The examiner must opine whether either of these conditions is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability, to include asthma. As to sinusitis, the examiner must opine whether it was aggravated by service. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any migraines. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The examiner must opine whether it at least as likely as not (1) began during active service, (2) manifested within a year after discharge from service, or (3) was noted during service with continuity of the same symptomatology since service. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability, to include low back disability. 5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any sciatica or low back nerve disorder. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The examiner must opine whether it at least as likely as not (1) began during active service, (2) manifested within a year after discharge from service, or (3) was noted during service with continuity of the same symptomatology since service. (Continued on the next page)   The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability, to include low back disability. C. TRUEBA Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD N. Rippel, Counsel