Asthma decisions — 2002

The veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis, with history of bilateral carotid gland enlargement and asthma, has been granted ratings from December 14, 1981 to the present.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or combination of illnesses that became manifest during the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim of service connection for asthma, bronchitis chest pain, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for branchial asthma, extraction of third molars (for treatment), umbilical little reducible hernia, generalized arthralgia due to undiagnosed illness, and residuals of a right shoulder separation. The reasons were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma, currently rated at 30 percent disabling, does not warrant a higher evaluation based on current clinical findings and treatment history.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of August 23, 1994. The claim for earlier effective date for the grant of service connection was granted and a 100% evaluation was assigned.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his conditions do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic laryngitis, multiple chemical sensitivity, and headaches. Service connection for PTSD was denied as not due to a stressor related to service. The veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's sleep disorder, allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis, and anxiety neurosis with depression are not service-connected. The VA has assigned a rating for asthma but denied the claims for additional evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for bronchial asthma, concluding that the condition did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service.

The veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 1997 and at 30 percent from July 18, 1997. The appeal is granted for the period of time from February 16, 1995 until July 18, 1997.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma from May 19, 2000. The veteran previously received a 10 percent rating prior to this date.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and gout, as well as earlier effective dates for the hearing loss rating and the scar rating.,The veteran's disabilities were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's nicotine dependence and asthma are not service-connected. The veteran's chronic bronchitis/COPD is also not established.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for asthma and determined that new evidence supports reopening, but finds that asthma did not increase in severity during military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bronchial asthma prior to February 24, 1999 was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on August 31, 1998 were reimbursed as the treatment was for a nonservice-connected disability associated with and aggravating her service-connected ankle disorder, there was a medical emergency such that delay would have been hazardous to life or health, and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board found that the appellant was not entitled to recognition as the veteran's child because she had not been permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of eighteen.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of service-connected allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, or cataracts. The veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic pulmonary disorder, to include asthma and bronchitis, finding that the veteran does not currently have such a condition.