Asthma decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, which was previously denied in April 1991.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma preexisted service and was not aggravated during active military service. The VA physician concluded that there was an increase in severity of symptoms during service, but also noted that the condition continued to progress after separation from service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for tinnitus, bronchial asthma, headaches, peptic ulcer disease with duodenitis, and a skin condition of both hands. The decision also noted that no issues regarding service connection were currently before the Board.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bronchiectasis and bronchial asthma do not warrant a rating higher than 60 percent, as his symptoms are within the range of what is contemplated for this disability level.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his asthma and rhinitis disabilities, as well as his request to reopen a claim for service connection for neurodermatitis. The decision found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected asthma, which requires multiple courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Board denied service connection for neck pain, boils of the groin and arms, insomnia, tension headaches, and bronchial asthma due to an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's claims were not granted.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of status post median sternotomy, effective October 13, 1991. The appeal regarding the initial evaluation for bronchial asthma is not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's hypertension, asthma, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his service-connected conditions. The veteran's PTSD is allowed for rating purposes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bronchial asthma and anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under either the old or revised criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, to include as secondary to her service-connected granuloma of the middle lobe of the right lung. The claim for an increased rating for post-concussion headaches was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and gout, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for a separate rating of a disfiguring scar of the neck.,The RO separated out the muscle injury from the cicatrices disability in April 1998, resulting in a new 10 percent rating for a disfiguring scar of the neck.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without aid.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The appellant's service entrance examination is missing, and there are concerns about the completeness of his medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of asthma, finding no evidence supporting a prior effective date.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The RO granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the service-connected right knee disorder effective from November 15, 1999. The appeal for a higher rating for this condition continues.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 5, 1996 for the grant of service connection for residuals of lung cancer and a rating of 10 percent for status post rhinoplasty with bone graft.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for asthma. The veteran's post-service asthma is related to his inservice asthma, as evidenced by opinions from Drs. S.F.W. and C.W.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, legal entitlement to accrued benefits, and DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service.