Asthma decisions — 2007

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's current lung conditions are related to his service, including any Gulf War exposure and whether they were aggravated by an episode of pneumonia in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for asthma and depression. The decision on asthma was based on aggravation, while the psychiatric disorder issue remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC levels are within normal ranges, and he does not require daily inhalation or oral bronchodilator therapy. He also does not have at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations or intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further action, including consideration of additional evidence and a video-conference hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic respiratory disorders, including asthma, sinus disorder, and breathing disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and bronchial asthma, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service, including herbicide exposure.

The VA medical examiner found that the veteran currently suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, but did not find a direct link to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma and right knee disability were denied. The VA determined that the veteran's asthma did not meet criteria warranting a higher than 30 percent rating, while his right knee disability was found to be adequately rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder with pain, leg symptoms and sciatica, as well as COPD, asthma and bronchitis. The Board found that a chronic back disorder was not manifested during or within one year after service, nor is there competent evidence relating current back disorder to service. For COPD, asthma and bronchitis, the Board concluded that they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder is not related to his military service, including due to asbestos exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current respiratory condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis with nasal polyps and asthma due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The case is returned to the RO for further action, including a VA examination.

The veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,His asthma is also rated at 30 percent. The veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung disability, including asthma and allergy, is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of asbestos exposure during active duty.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's exercise induced asthma, currently evaluated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizoid personality disorder, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and major depression and insomnia. The appeals were based on direct evidence of a relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including arthritis of the right shoulder and both wrists, low back disorder, neck disorder, chronic acquired eye disorder, tinnitus, allergies, asthma, unspecified disorders related to asbestos and radiation exposure. The claims are all denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are not etiologically related to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, visual impairment, rhinitis, and headaches. The claim for asthma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Visual impairment, refractive error, is considered a non-disability for VA compensation purposes. Rhinitis and headaches were not shown to have had onset during service or be related to undiagnosed illnesses.

The case is being remanded for additional medical evaluation and records review to determine the appropriate rating for the veteran's bronchial asthma.