Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Is this a Boxelder...and is it dying??? Help!, 1 by Echo4u

Echo4u wrote:
I'm told that this is a Boxelder tree. The side closest to the house looks sooo sick! The leaves fall daily, they look dried out, brown and orange. (I don't think these are its autumn colors...it looked like this in May!) There is new growth at the ends of the branches that is bright green and healthy looking. Don't know whether to spray for bugs, fungus, or what!! Can anyone help? Posting 2 pics, one to show how bare it's getting and the second is a leaf close-up.
Thank you, Laura