Asthma decisions — 2010

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30% and the claim for an increased rating was denied. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disability is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency room treatment at Florida Hospital/Fish Memorial on January 31, 2008 are approved as the delay in seeking care would have been hazardous to his health and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left sided hearing loss disability and rheumatoid arthritis. Service connection for psychiatric disability, fatigue, a disability manifested by light headedness, and asthma is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and unclear etiology of the appellant's asthma.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's asthma, GERD, right shoulder, and right ankle disabilities were not found to warrant increased evaluations. The appellant did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder, and urinary tract/bladder disorder.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Newark facility.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current asthma existed prior to service and was aggravated by in-service exposure to mustard gas or asbestos. As a result, the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for reactive airways dysfunction syndrome/irritant induced asthma and other respiratory disorders, including restrictive lung disease and sleep apnea. The decision is mixed as it grants some issues but denies others.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and migraine headaches, prevent her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lung condition, diagnosed as severe asthma. The decision is based on credible lay evidence and medical opinion that links the current asthma to in-service exposure to burning coal fumes/dust.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and a need for an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, pneumonia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. As a result, these issues are being remanded to the RO for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition and asthma were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral flatfoot were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asthma have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria.