Asthma decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs to obtain service treatment records, emergency room records, and any other relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical spine disability, right ankle strain, left wrist cyst, and bronchial asthma will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for tachycardia and asthma, including consideration of potential asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, diagnosed as bronchial asthma, is causally related to his military service and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected condition, as he had no active lung cancer at the time of his death. His bronchial asthma is service connected and considered the principal cause of death.

The Board has determined that bronchial asthma and sleep apnea are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected restrictive lung disease, warranting grants of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from September 21, 1999, until February 6, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, and asthma, due to asbestos exposure is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for further examination of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no credible evidence linking his current asthma to any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected respiratory problems due to lung conditions, including asthma, COPD, emphysema, and TB, are currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to his military service or undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War service.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent from November 1, 2004 to February 16, 2009 and at 60 percent since February 17, 2009. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma and pulmonary disorder other than asthma (COPD) are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for asthma, which he claims was first diagnosed during active duty in June 1953. The VA has not obtained all relevant medical records from the Allen Park VAMC and the Veteran's claim will be remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary bypass surgery is not service-connected, and denied his claims for hypertension, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression). The decision also found in favor of reopening the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The case is being remanded for further examination and development due to incomplete service medical records.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU with an effective date of March 4, 2008, due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for the TDIU was filed on December 2, 2003.

The Veteran's asthma was initially granted with a 30% rating. The VA found that the Veteran's FEV-1 values were below 55% predicted, warranting an initial 30% rating.