Asthma decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for post-concussion syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression), asthma, hypertension, and skin cancer. The Board found that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's current diagnosed asthma is related to active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a skin disorder, arthritis of the hands and elbows, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The Board found that pre-existing asthma was not aggravated by active service, that a skin disorder is not related to active service, and that arthritis of the hands and elbows are not related to active service.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for asthma. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain missing medical records and provide proper notice under Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board has decided that the VA Regional Office (RO) needs to obtain additional medical records and translations of documents before deciding on the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's asthma is as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board also finds that there is no evidence of a neck injury in service and insufficient medical evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology, thus denying service connection for residuals of a neck injury.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including verification of service periods and obtaining treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further action.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted a higher initial 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's asthma, but denied service connection for her bilateral shoulder disability. The claim for an increased rating for asthma is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma and environmental allergies were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bronchial asthma, finding that the current level of severity does not warrant such an increase.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent assigned, as his disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6602.

The VA has determined that the veteran's asthma does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6602, as his pulmonary function tests do not show FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent predicted or a FEV-1/FVC ratio of 40 to 55 percent. The VA has also determined that he does not meet the criteria for monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, nor does he require intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus condition and congestive asthma, finding no evidence of current disability or etiology in service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis due to service-connected bronchial asthma. The heart disability, reduced blood circulation, spinal nerve damage, and diabetic retinopathy claims are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in the record or a causal relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is service-connected, as it began during his military service. The diabetes and heart disease are not found to be directly related to service or secondary to asthma medication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran requires at least three courses per year of systemic corticosteroids for asthma. The claim will be adjudicated again after this development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hyperlipidemia, a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma), and a right foot neuroma. The appeals are all denied due to lack of verified stressor for PTSD, lack of evidence linking current conditions to service, and no medical opinion establishing a secondary relationship between diabetes mellitus and the claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected disabilities were denied by the Board. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather about the appropriate disability ratings.