Asthma decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, finding that the evidence received since the December 1992 decision was not new and material.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (asthma and depression) are of such severity as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bronchial asthma, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, which was previously denied. The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bronchial asthma worsened during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and allergy, as well as sinusitis. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to warrant reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's COPD or asthma to military service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a head injury have been reopened, but denied on the merits. The decision regarding asthma is mixed - some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for hemorrhoids, asthma, or hearing loss. The veteran's claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition worsening during active duty for training.

The veteran's PTSD, asthma, and other service-connected conditions resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent as of May 27, 1999. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are established based on when the disabilities became factually ascertainable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma warrants a 60 percent evaluation, which is higher than the current 30 percent rating. The evidence shows significant impairment in his ability to work due to frequent exacerbations of his condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma warrants a 30 percent disability rating, effective July 7, 1996. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not warrant an increased rating beyond 30 percent, as his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC ratio do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds no evidence of nicotine dependence and no direct connection between in-service smoking or carbon tetrachloride exposure and the veteran's current pulmonary/respiratory disability.,There is no medical evidence linking prostate cancer to in-service smoking or carbon tetrachloride exposure.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to October 7, 1996 did not meet the schedular requirements for a total rating based on unemployability.

The veteran withdrew her appeal seeking service connection for a breathing disorder to include asthma before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and TDIU, both effective as of July 13, 1994. The veteran's claims are denied for earlier effective dates.

The veteran's post-traumatic headaches are rated at 10 percent, but she failed to report for a VA examination related to her asthma. The effective date of service connection and compensation for major depression has been established as March 11, 2000.