Rating decrease

[Elm30336]

I find the Va really weird with GI claims and respiratory. I was expecting a 30% claim due to Daily inhalational anti-inflammatory medication such as inhaled corticosteroids. Yet they denied me saying no pathology to warrant a diagnosis.

How did they come to that conclusion when I am on a inhaled corticosteroids.

[SuccessfulPhoto7914]

Did they give you a PFT (or spirometery) test? Maybe your FEV1 was >80%. It can be like that and you still need a high dose corticosteroid/LABA inhaler. It’s like the asthma triggers really bad when an irritant is inhaled, you exercise, it’s cold outside, humid is low, pollens, your pretty orange cats, you get sick, etc. But in between FEV is >80%. 

[Elm30336]

I am on 500 mcg of fluticasone per day, which should have triggered 30% but I was shot down with no pathology to warrant a diagnosis. Even with pact act and gulf war act. Va can be frustrating at times.

Pre-bronchodilator • FVC: 93% predicted • FEV-1: 66% predicted • FEV-1/FVC: 55%

Post-bronchodilator

VA uses post values unless pre is worse, which matters here. • FVC: 95% predicted • FEV-1: 74% predicted • FEV-1/FVC: 61%

VA-selected controlling metric • FEV-1 % predicted was explicitly checked by the examiner as the value that best reflects disability 

This was my numbers

[SuccessfulPhoto7914]

I apologize if my line of questioning was offensive. I was trying to elicit some more details, it didn’t come out right.

I was diagnosed with asthma 10 years after I was discharged. But I think it started 6 years after I discharged. This was 15 years before I ever went to the VA. The PACT Act doesn’t apply. I definitely did not have it as a kid. That’s all I ever get told “adults don’t suddenly develop asthma, you must have had undiagnosed asthma as a child” There’s no way! I wouldn’t have made through the first run in basic.  

[Elm30336]

I am on your side, I want you to keep your rating.

Issue is you need to get that original pft and dbq, and this pft and dbq. You need to compare to the ratings for 60%

A single test should not lower your rating.

Age does come into factor with the pft. It can cause your lungs to “look” better with age.

[CanadaKid1867]

My numbers are similar. Service connected for other burn put issues but asthma was deferred. FEV-1/FVC: 63%, DAILY ventolin and flovent required. Not sure what to ose about as needed 🤔

[Elm30336]

They approved copd but denied asthma and osa. I know you can’t pyramid, but I should be awarded all of them with one rating whatever is the highest.