Asthma decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's asthma, currently rated at 30 percent. The VA found that the veteran's asthma results in intermittent exacerbations and remissions that respond well to treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's preexisting pectus excavatum did not increase in severity during service, and there is no competent medical evidence of a superimposed respiratory disorder. Therefore, the veteran's current respiratory disorder is not considered to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's migraine headaches, left foot fracture with metatarsal bone grafts, asthma, and hiatal hernia with gastritis are all rated at the maximum allowable under their respective diagnostic codes. The veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for bronchial asthma and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support higher ratings or TDIU.

The Board found that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to her disabilities.

The Board has restored the veteran's 100% disability rating for asthma, effective February 1, 2003, as the reduction was improper and void ab initio.

The veteran's asthma was initially granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective from December 31, 1992. The RO later increased the rating to 10 percent effective from July 30, 2002, based on findings consistent with FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent predicted and daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, COPD, asthma, and rhinitis. The veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.

The veteran is seeking to have a May 1999 rating decision overturned for clear and unmistakable error, which would affect his effective date for the 100% rating for bronchial asthma. The case will be remanded to determine if there was CUE in the May 1999 rating decision.

The Board found that the veteran did not serve in combat and there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD. Service connection for asthma was also denied due to lack of competent evidence linking the condition to service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another, or at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete notification and the need for additional evidence regarding unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on April 3, 2005. Other service connection claims are referred to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including asthma, COPD, back injury residuals, neck injury residuals, head injury residuals, and a lung disability due to tobacco use or nicotine dependence. The appeals were based on new and material evidence, but there was no indication of exposure to radiation or any other basis for presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for asthma, a vision problem with implanted contact lens, and left arm condition. The veteran was not diagnosed with these conditions during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma, whether due to an undiagnosed illness or a diagnosed condition, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, chronic asthma, and right shoulder injury are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The VA has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma, citing insufficient evidence to support such an increase based on the veteran's pulmonary function test results and medical history.