Asthma decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board determined that the veteran's schizophrenia did not contribute to his death, and thus service connection for the cause of his death is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of medical evidence showing a current diagnosis. The claims for service connection for hypertension and bronchial asthma are pending as there is no clear indication that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's asthma was initially rated as zero percent disabling and later increased to 30 percent effective March 5, 1999. The VA found that the veteran required daily inhalational bronchodilator therapy after this date.

The veteran's service-connected splenectomy is currently rated at 20 percent, and her appendectomy does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The Board found no evidence of systemic infections or other complications related to the splenectomy that would justify an increased rating.

The veteran's asthma and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining the VA examination report from January 2003 and arranging for a new VA examination to assess his current disability levels.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected bronchial asthma and also denied entitlement to a TDIU rating. The veteran's current disability rating is 60 percent.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that while pulmonary tuberculosis was present during service and contributed to his death, it did not substantially or materially contribute to his death.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected asthma, currently rated at 30 percent. The VA found that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on FEV-1/FVC or daily use of systemic corticosteroids.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions and for a TDIU were denied as the evidence did not show that he served for at least 90 days during a period of war or was discharged due to a service-connected disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for asthma with hyperactive airway disease, which he claims was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his military service. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's condition existed prior to service and whether it was aggravated by service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, finding that there was no relationship between the cause of his death and his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, effective October 1, 2004. The claim for a higher rating prior to this date was denied.

The veteran's asthma is found to be the result of disease or injury incurred in active military service.,A June 1997 rating action by which the RO denied a claim for service connection for a nervous disorder is final. The evidence received since that decision is new and material, reopening the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for asthma and gout, as well as her claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal was dismissed regarding a compensable rating for a shell fragment wound to the left chest area.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability (claimed as tuberculosis) and PTSD. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current respiratory symptoms, including asthma and obstructive airway disease, are not related to his in-service asbestos exposure. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's service and his current condition.

The veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for bronchial asthma was denied. He is currently rated at 30 percent since September 27, 1999.