Asthma decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from residuals of a right ankle sprain. The claims for service connection for left knee disorder, short-term memory loss, loose stools, and asthma are being remanded to obtain additional development.

The veteran died of probable arteriosclerotic heart disease, with severe bronchial asthma listed as a contributing cause. The Board found no service connection for any disability at the time of death and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the claim for dependents' educational assistance.

The VA determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma warrants a 60 percent disability rating, effective from July 1994.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his pulmonary disabilities, which include asthma and sarcoidosis. The RO has determined that these conditions pre-existed his period of active duty for training in February 1984. To properly adjudicate the claim, a VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the veteran's current diagnoses and determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for hysterectomy, asthma, right shoulder disability, and leg pain are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between current disabilities and injuries or diseases noted during her active service.

The VA has granted increased ratings for the appellant's service-connected asthma and pes planus, effective October 7, 1996, and August 22, 1997 respectively. The lumbar strain remains at a 0 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and asthma, both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's symptoms are currently managed with medications and do not significantly impair his daily activities.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the evidence, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a VA examination to assess the severity of the appellant's service-connected bronchial asthma.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected restrictive lung disease/asthma was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence did not support an evaluation greater than 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for asthma was denied by the RO, and he is currently receiving a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 60 percent for bronchial asthma between July 19, 1994, and October 7, 1996.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma and found it well-grounded. The new evidence suggests that the veteran's asthma may have been aggravated by his military service in Southwest Oklahoma.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as his claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and have been denied. The appeals were based on various conditions, but the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of medical evidence or plausible diagnoses.

The Board found that the RO improperly reduced the disability evaluation for the veteran's asthmatic bronchitis from 30 to 10 percent effective as of August 1, 1981. The reduction was upheld for the anxiety disorder with depressive features. However, the termination of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability was found proper.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, gastritis, asthmatic bronchitis, and atypical psychosis. The RO assigned noncompensable evaluations to these conditions in June 1993.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of asthma and heart disease as being related to service, including his Persian Gulf service. The veteran's current conditions are not considered well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a cardiovascular disability and an increased rating for bronchial asthma, finding that his claim was not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bronchial asthma was remanded multiple times. The case is now back with the Board, and another remand is required to complete necessary development before a decision can be made.