Citation Nr: 19123790 Decision Date: 03/29/19 Archive Date: 03/29/19 DOCKET NO. 17-50 129 DATE: March 29, 2019 REMANDED Service connection for asthma is remanded.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1974 to January 1976 and from April 1977 to January 1985. The case is on appeal from a December 2015. Service connection for asthma. In a June 2015 correspondence, the Veteran’s representative reported that the Veteran had asthma at a young age that was aggravated by his military service. He noted that the Veteran began to experience shortness of breath related to asthma during service and that a May 1978 pulmonary function test showed moderate pulmonary obstruction worsened by exercise. The Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) show that he reported a history of asthma since childhood and was treated for asthma with wheezing and shortness of breath during service. The Veteran’s file does not contain STRs for his first period of service outside of dental records. In addition, the STRs of record do not include entrance or separation examinations for either of his periods of service. Therefore, remand is warranted to locate attempt to obtain any additional STRs, as well as any service personnel records (SPRs). A VA examiner was provided in in October 2015. The examiner reported a diagnosis of asthma in 1979 and also of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2009. She noted that the Veteran smoked cigarettes over the years and currently reports smoking a pack of cigarettes every 3 days. She found that the Veteran was diagnosed with asthma during service that progressed to COPD. The examiner also found that the Veteran’s COPD is at least as likely as not due to the in-service onset of asthma. Thereafter, in December 2015, the Veteran was afforded another VA examination. The examiner diagnosed him with COPD that is more specifically characterized as emphysema. She noted that the Veteran started smoking cigarettes in the late 1970’s, has a 40 pack year smoking history, and still smokes. She found that the Veteran’s COPD is less likely than not due to service and instead attributes the diagnosis to his tobacco use. In October 2018, the Veteran submitted a January 2013 VA treatment record from the Salisbury, North Carolina VA Medical Center (VAMC) that is not otherwise of record. On remand updated VA treatment records should be associated with the file, to include complete records from the Salisbury VAMC. Thereafter, the Veteran should be afforded another VA examination by a pulmonologist or specialist in internal medicine, with a medical opinion. This claim is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Contact the appropriate service department and/or records custodian(s), to include the National Personnel Records Center, with a request for copies of the Veteran’s complete STRs and SPRs, to include entrance and separation examinations and all records from his first period of active duty service from January 1974 to January 1976. 2. Obtain complete VA treatment records from the Salisbury VAMC, as well as complete VA treatment records dated from December 2015. 3. After completing the records development indicated above, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by a pulmonologist or specialist in internal medicine, if possible. The entire claims file should be reviewed by the examiner. The examiner should first identify all respiratory disorders experienced by the Veteran during the period on appeal (since June 2015), to include whether he has had asthma in addition to COPD. The examiner should then provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran has asthma that had its onset during either period of service, or is otherwise related to, service. If additional STRs show asthma noted at entrance, or there is otherwise sufficient evidence showing that asthma preexisted service, the examiner should be provided with the standard aggravation/presumption of soundness questions on which to comment. A rationale for any opinion offered should be provided. Consideration should be give to the STRs showing in-service problems and the Veteran’s statements, as well as his smoking history. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD D. Jimerfield, Associate Counsel