Asthma decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to lack of evidence showing he meets the criteria.

The VA has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected allergic bronchial asthma and increased the rating of the service-connected allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disabilities to 30 percent. The decision does not address the issue of hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pain and numbness in the upper extremities, headaches, generalized osteoarthritis (claimed as arthritis of the whole body), sinusitis, asthma, and breathing problems. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a pulmonary disease (including bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema) due to exposure to asbestos and porphyria cutanea tarda due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his period of service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to mustard gas during active duty.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment based on his educational attainment and occupational experience.

The veteran's pulmonary disease with bronchial asthma was granted a 60 percent evaluation prior to July 1, 1999. He is also granted TDIU status prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma and COPD were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to mustard gas. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and asthma, finding the claims were not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence associating these conditions with military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's exercise-induced asthma was incurred during her period of service and is granted service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma, as the submitted evidence was not significant enough to change the final denial.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected asthma is being remanded due to recent assertions of worsening symptoms and work limitations.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the appellant's service-connected bronchial asthma, effective from October 1996. The claim was reopened due to new evidence and is now rated under the old criteria as it applies more favorably.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist disability, asthma, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, it found that these claims are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, asthma, and headaches as not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriasis was denied, as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher evaluation.,The veteran's claim seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for COPD and asthma incurred during VA treatment in July 1986 was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma and emphysema, as claimed due to smoking tobacco in service. The issue of an increased evaluation for residuals of skin lesions is pending.

The VA denied an increased rating for bronchial asthma, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for various symptoms, including asthma, hair loss, fatigue, skin rashes, intestinal problems, headaches, and body aches are well grounded. The RO denied service connection for these conditions based on presumptive service connection due to undiagnosed illness arising from Persian Gulf War service.