Asthma decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a lung disorder, which was previously characterized as bronchial asthma. The veteran testified about his in-service lung problems and subsequent medical discharge.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected asthma and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and employment records.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, headaches, a chronic back disorder, acne vulgaris (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange), scars (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange), asthma, and a 'gland problem' (claimed as a residual of exposure to Agent Orange). The RO denied service connection for these conditions in March 1982.

The veteran's service connection claims for impaired vision, hearing loss, asthma, and headaches have been granted. The initial rating of 30 percent for service-connected headaches has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder, left knee disorder, and asthma are related to service and have granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete medical records and will consider all claims raised by the evidence, including theories of entitlement not previously considered.

The veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for asthma and increased ratings for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic cystitis, and hayfever with headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran is service-connected for dysthymia with anxiety, asthmatic bronchitis, and a right wrist disorder. He was found unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions. The effective date for the TDIU rating has been established as August 24, 1998.

The veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and he contends it should be increased to a higher rating due to his use of daily oral corticosteroids.

The VA granted service connection for asthma and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective October 1, 2002. The veteran's asthma is currently rated as minimal with intermittent use of bronchial therapy.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of flatfoot or clawfoot, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The remaining issues regarding asthma, sinusitis (headaches), right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and diarrhea are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis, including secondary to asbestos exposure was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that his current asthma does not have its onset in service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for service-connected bronchial asthma based on the results of recent pulmonary function tests showing FEV-1 at 43% predicted, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6602.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, back injuries, neck injuries, hypertension, and a pulmonary disorder (claimed as asthma), were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development before the Board can make a decision.

The veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been dismissed due to her death.

The VA has denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 23, 2001, for a grant of service connection for asthma. The effective date is set at the date entitlement arose, which was April 23, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a respiratory disability other than asthma, including COPD, that is related to his military service.