Asthma decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made. The issues of service connection for asthma, an earlier effective date for PTSD, increased ratings for PTSD and left foot disability are dismissed.

The veteran's right lower lobe lobectomy with asthma and small airways obstruction resulted in a 60 percent evaluation prior to October 7, 1996. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted service connection for asthma and residuals of right inguinal hernia repair, with a noncompensable rating initially assigned. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for asthma is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and PTSD, finding that these conditions are related to active service. Service connection was denied for a skin disability as a residual of Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for allergies, asthma, and residuals of cervical dysplasia. The low back disorder was granted with a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and hay fever, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and a chronic pulmonary disability. The claims are well-grounded as there is evidence suggesting these conditions may be related to his military service.

The veteran's asthma and reactive bronchitis are considered to have been incurred in service, while her respiratory symptoms due to undiagnosed illness during the Persian Gulf War are well-grounded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and asthma, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for bronchial asthma is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board found that the claim for service connection for COPD with bronchial asthma is not well grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to the service-connected left pneumothorax.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's bronchial asthma, but denied an increased rating for his left knee injury.

The Board granted a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma, effective October 7, 1996. The attorney is eligible to receive payment of fees from past-due benefits based on this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, respiratory disorder to include asthma, bilateral foot disorder to include bone spurs of the heels, and bilateral ankle disability. Service connection was denied for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonic valve stenosis and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of pneumonia, right atelectasis and asthma. The veteran's pulmonic valve stenosis was found to be congenital and not aggravated by active service. For the period prior to October 7, 1996, the residuals of pneumonia were rated as moderate disability; since then, they have been rated as severe.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for low back disorder and granted a 30 percent evaluation for asthma. The decision is based on the appellant's symptoms and medical records, with no new evidence or changes in criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bronchial asthma have been denied. The RO is currently addressing the issue of bronchial asthma in a separate remand.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical evidence from SSA and scheduling VA examinations.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including bronchial asthma and duodenal ulcer, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing asthma condition worsened during service, and thus grants service connection for asthma.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory condition in service and concluded that the current respiratory disability is not related to service.