Asthma decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that there is a link between the Veteran's current pulmonary disabilities, including asthma and bronchiectasis, and his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, asthma, and chalazion removal of both eyes were denied. The RO had already granted a 20% rating for the right shoulder disability as of March 22, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of right wrist fracture, service connection for chronic respiratory disorder (claimed as bronchial asthma), and service connection for gastrointestinal disorder. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for asthma prior to August 19, 2009 and beginning August 19, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including reactive airway disease and bronchial asthma exacerbation, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent since the appeal began. However, given his need for daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy and moderate corticosteroids, a higher 60 percent rating is now granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include as due to exposure to herbicides or asbestos, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder during service and concluded that the Veteran's current asthma and allergic rhinitis are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disorder, including COPD and asthma, was not related to his service or exposure to asbestos. Bilateral hearing loss was also not related to service.

The Veteran's lung disorder, including asthma, was not incurred during service and is not related to any in-service event or incident.,There is no evidence of GERD with reflux esophagitis during the Veteran's period of active military service. The condition was first diagnosed many years after discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication of his claims, including service connection for emphysema and separate rating for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for asthma has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sense of smell and respiratory disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate notification and the need for additional evidence regarding his exposure history.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-surgical conditions and pre-existing osteoarthritis, is rated at 60 percent effective February 1, 2009. The asthma disability remains rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not attributable to nicotine dependence or service connection, and denied the claim.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for asthma, chronic renal failure, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing a causal link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's asthma was not shown to have been caused by his in-service meningitis, and he did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his claim for service connection. The examiner found no current residuals of the Veteran's in-service meningitis.