Asthma decisions — 2004

The veteran's vocational rehabilitation benefits were terminated because she did not participate in her plan since March 1993, and VA is limited to providing only 18 months of employment services. The Board finds that the veteran has been rehabilitated and does not have a serious employment handicap.

The Board denied service connection for bronchial asthma with COPD and the TDIU rating prior to September 1999, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bronchial asthma, finding that the evidence does not support such an increase.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death (cor pulmonale with bronchial asthma and hypertension) was not related to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The service connection claims for back disorder and bronchial asthma are still pending, as well as the increased rating claims for eczema of the right foot, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for asthma and found new and material evidence. The issue of increased rating for rhinitis is addressed, but no specific rating assigned as it remains at 10 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/reactive airway disease, is not related to his period of active military service.

The Board has decided in favor of the veteran, granting service connection for asthma (claimed as severe respiratory distress) due to mustard gas exposure during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and outdated medical records. The veteran's claims of service connection for dental trauma and an increased evaluation for asthma need further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities. The appeal is now pending again with the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic bronchial asthma does not warrant a disability rating greater than 30 percent, as his pulmonary function tests did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on PFTs. The preponderance of evidence is against a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion.

Service connection for shortness of breath and wheezing, diagnosed as exercise-induced asthma, was denied because the condition is not due to an undiagnosed illness.,Service connection for joint pains of the ankles, knees, and right shoulder, diagnosed as bilateral retropatellar knee pain, was denied because there were no objective indications of such a condition during service or within one year after discharge.,Service connection for fatigue and sleep disturbances was denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, residuals of a laceration of the knee, bronchial asthma, or chronic bronchitis as a result of service. The claim to reopen for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma, finding that his condition warrants this higher rating based on its severity.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an evaluation by a VA pulmonologist.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for asthma effective from August 13, 2002. The effective date for the increased rating was set at July 23, 1999.

The VA granted an initial evaluation of 10% for bronchial asthma from March 21, 1996 to October 6, 1996. From October 7, 1996 onwards, the VA increased the evaluation to 30%. The appellant's condition was characterized by daily use of an albuterol inhaler and decreased breath sounds.