Asthma decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma did not increase in severity beyond its natural progression during service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma and determined that it was incurred during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma did not have its onset during service and is unrelated to his service-connected nasal fracture residuals. As a result, the claim for service connection for bronchial asthma was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bronchial asthma, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The veteran's asthma is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and his residuals of excision of a mass from the left triceps muscle are also rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted these evaluations.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for his bronchial asthma disability rating was denied as the evidence did not show an increase in disability within one year of his May 1993 claim, and the medical records showed occasional episodes with no clinical findings between attacks.

The veteran's combined disability rating is no more than 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypertension, asthma, and mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease L5/S1 and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The RO continued the current 20 percent evaluation for the low back disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require a program of vocational rehabilitation under chapter 31, as his education and work experience are sufficient to find suitable employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings or additional service connection. The RO had already granted service connection for PTSD and asthma, and the current appeal was limited to evaluating his HNP and left hip conditions.

The Board found that repayment of the overpayment would not cause undue financial hardship and denied the veteran's request for a waiver.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether any additional notice or development is warranted under the VCAA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's aortic insufficiency did not warrant a rating greater than 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 and since then does not meet criteria for a rating greater than 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred in service and denied his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchial asthma and reactive bronchitis, but denied the claim for an undiagnosed respiratory illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic lung disorder, including asthma, asthmatic bronchitis and reactive airway disease. The evidence submitted since the April 1997 decision was not new and material.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma. The case is now remanded for further development.