Asthma decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran's net worth was sufficient to cover his maintenance costs, including medical expenses. The case does not involve service connection issues.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The issue is whether this condition began during or is causally linked to any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of evidence, including a VA pulmonary examination and review of new medical evidence. The claims for an increased rating for bronchial asthma and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be considered together.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, variously classified.

The veteran's lung disorder and asthma are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the claims for increased rating for bronchial asthma and service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that new evidence did not reopen the previously denied claim for service connection. The veteran's hypertension and heart disease were found to be aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The VA determined that the veteran's asthma was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service-connected asthma, which was granted with a 30% disability rating effective from November 18, 1998. The case is being remanded to gather additional information and evidence regarding the timing of the initial claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants this claim. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal involves the original assignment of a disability evaluation for asthma, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating from October 7, 1996, to July 20, 1997. The case is now remanded due to new evidence and changes in law.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to service, and the increase in severity during service is presumed due to the natural progression of the disease. For her allergic rhinitis, there were no polyps or significant obstruction.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the feet, and degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine were granted with a rating of 10 percent in each case.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma and left ankle fracture residuals are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic tinnitus, hypertension, asthma, and emphysema resulting from VA lung surgery in May 1991.

The Board found that the termination of the veteran's fee-basis outpatient treatment arrangement was proper due to his frequent and numerous visits to VA medical facilities, which demonstrated their geographical accessibility.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of nasal trauma and granted service connection for asthma/reactive airways disease, but denied a higher rating for his asthma. The effective date for the increased rating is October 7, 1996.