Asthma decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins, skin rash (multiple), aching joints (other than the knees and back), with muscle and nerve involvement and chest tightness, migraine headaches, and asthma and allergic rhinitis were denied as they are not shown to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate condition and a respiratory disorder, finding no evidence of asbestos or Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Graves Disease, residuals of ethmoidectomy and sphenoidectomy, eye problems, headaches, acid reflux, hypertension, and asthma. The Board found that these conditions were not related to service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous VA examination is necessary to assess the veteran's current symptomatology associated with his service-connected bronchial asthma. The TDIU claim may be impacted by the evaluation of the veteran's service-connected asthma disability.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing asthma was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's bronchial asthma did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC values. Her bilateral pes planus was essentially normal with no current disability affecting her ability to work. The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for her knee conditions, sinusitis, and asthma were denied. Her service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular threshold requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's asthma and eczema claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral metatarsal callosities. The claim for increased disability rating for bronchial asthma is remanded.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's current lung condition, asthma, is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including pulmonary asthma and bipolar disorder. The veteran's claims were based on direct service connection.

The veteran has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for asthma and arteriosclerotic heart disease with myocardial infarction.,Service connection remains denied as the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and asthma, finding that there was no showing of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more to warrant a higher evaluation. The appeal regarding the asthma claim was dismissed due to untimely filing of a substantive appeal.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability and service connection for stomach ulcers, gastritis, lumbosacral strain, and asthma. The medical evidence did not show that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability met or approximated the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before a traveling Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Phoenix, Arizona. The case will then be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD, and thus denied service connection. For asthma, there was also no specific incident or event identified.

The veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and PTSD, as well as his claims for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status, earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a missing claims file, and requests for additional development have been made. The veteran's psychiatric disability, asthma (claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and hand injury claim are still pending.