Asthma decisions — 2003

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for chronic asthma, both for purposes of accrued benefits. The decision found that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition prior to service and no relationship between any diagnosed conditions and active service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for bronchial asthma effective from March 21, 2000. The veteran's condition was found to meet the criteria for this rating based on FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent of predicted.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of such benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unclear examination reports and a need to review the claims file.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bronchial asthma, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, F.R.R., is a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18 years. The evidence shows he was permanently incapable of self-support by reason of his mental conditions (ADHD and schizophrenia) and asthma.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no competent evidence linking the cause of death to his military service.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected bronchitis with asthma, as her pulmonary function tests do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthma, was not caused or contributed to by his military service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were not related to his time in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma secondary to exposure to mustard gas, finding that there was no full body exposure and no medical evidence linking the condition to active service.

The veteran's TR was granted effective May 3, 2000, due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for bronchial asthma, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for TDIU is moot as the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for such an award.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that any service-connected condition contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma warrants a 100 percent evaluation, based on FEV-1 findings of less than 40 percent predicted.

The veteran's claim for higher ratings for bronchial asthma was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met the criteria for a higher rating under the old VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound, finding that he did not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for asthma, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted. The RO previously denied the claim in October 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma was incurred in service and granted service connection for it. However, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease did not manifest during or as a result of service and is denied.