Asthma decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a combined service-connected disability rating of 80 percent due to hypertension as secondary to asthma. The ratings for his other service-connected conditions (asthma, allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis, and anxiety-neurosis with depression) were also upheld.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records.

The VA determined that the veteran's exercise-induced asthma did not warrant a compensable rating, as his pulmonary function test results were within normal limits.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for asthma and degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his service. The claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was also denied as the appellant did not have qualifying service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation based on dependents was denied as the evidence of dependency was not received within one year of notification of the increased disability rating.

The VA denied service connection for pulmonary disability, including asthma and emphysema, as well as cardiovascular disease, both of which the Board found not related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found no evidence of current nephritis or bronchial asthma, and the veteran's service records are not available. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's disabilities, including enucleation of the left eye and asthmatic bronchitis by history, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected disability pension purposes.

The RO denied the veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, citing that evidence of record supported the conclusion that the veteran's symptoms in service occurred during pollen season and were not indicative of pathological advancement.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims will be reconsidered based on all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions, finding no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his period of active service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma and granted it, with the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder including asthma and COPD being addressed in the remand portion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include bronchial asthma, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has vacated its decision on whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, due to a procedural issue related to the timing of submitting additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, but these claims are being remanded to allow for further development including a VA examination.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain clinical records of hospitalizations at Reynolds Army Hospital, Ft. Sill, OK and to provide a VA examination to determine if the veteran's asthma is related to conditions noted in his service medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, residuals of a stroke, asthma, right hip and right ankle disorders. The veteran was also denied increased evaluations for left and right shin splints as well as an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for asthma and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding that asthma was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for bronchial asthma. The veteran is seeking a higher rating, and VA will conduct further examination and review his medical records to determine if he qualifies for a higher rating based on systemic corticosteroids.

The veteran's claims for reopening a psychiatric disability claim and increasing his respiratory disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision information and conducting a VA pulmonary examination.