Asthma decisions — 2009

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between any conditions and service.

The Veteran's asthma required intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005. The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current chronic shin splints or respiratory system disabilities related to his active service. The evidence of record does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, and exercise-induced asthma due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence clearly showed that his pre-existing asthma existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active duty service. His cervical spine, lumbar spine, cardiovascular, and sleep disorders were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been rated at 30 percent since September 16, 1999. The VA determined that the condition does not necessitate intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids; or at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations; and pulmonary function tests (PFT's) in recent years do not show Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV-1) of 40 to 55-percent predicted, or the ratio of FEV-1 to Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) of 40 to 55-percent.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current asthma and his military service. The Veteran should be contacted regarding whether he still wishes to have a hearing before an RO decision review officer.

The Veteran seeks service connection for asthma and respiratory problems, which he claims are due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for further development of medical evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, asthma, bilateral hand disorders, bilateral leg disorders, and a brain condition were denied as there is no current clinical evidence or diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's asthma has not required frequent medical visits or the use of systemic corticosteroids, thus preventing a higher rating.,PTSD is not related to any in-service stressors and no current diagnosis was found.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including allergic rhinitis and asthma, are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service. His fibromyalgia is not related to his service. The psychiatric disability claim is pending.

The Veteran's asthma, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), and skin condition are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's COPD was not incurred or aggravated during service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the cause of the decedent's death, asthma and emphysema, is not related to his active military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of asthma is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for rectocele and service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma). The Veteran is not entitled to a separate compensable evaluation for fecal leakage, and her current symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under DC 7332. Service connection for a respiratory disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and a need for additional development, including medical examinations.