Asthma decisions — 2007

The Board has granted an increased rating for asthma and service connection for brainstem myoclonus, but denied a prior effective date for asthma. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right eye condition (claimed as homonymous hemianopsia), tension headaches, dizziness, and residuals of a head injury. The appeals were based on in-service accidents but no current disabilities are linked to those incidents.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining her Social Security Administration records and scheduling another VA medical examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of the appellant's asthma, including whether it is related to service or pre-existed entry into active duty.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Video Conference Hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest date possible.

The VA determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as asthma, reactive airway disease, or restrictive lung disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial compensable rating for residuals of meningitis are being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims of service connection for chloracne and to reopen the claim of service connection for asthma. The issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected asthma, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6602.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his conditions.

The veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to September 7, 2005. Starting from that date, the VA assigned a 60 percent rating for his condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for asthma, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent before January 21, 2006 and a rating higher than 60 percent from January 21, 2006.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical services at a non-VA facility is granted due to the circumstances surrounding her emergency room visit on October 1, 2003.

The veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for a single seizure, service connection for hypertension and COPD/Asthma, TDIU, and earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service seizures or related diagnoses, no medical nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his military service, and no evidence of exposure to hazardous materials like jet fuel.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and asthma, finding that the veteran's current conditions are reasonably attributable to in-service experiences and/or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma, finding that there is no evidence linking his current asthma disability to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple tooth extractions and bronchial asthma, finding that no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased disability rating for bronchial asthma and entitlement to TDIU are still pending.