Asthma decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiology records and a pulmonary examination to determine if his asthma was aggravated by service.

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

The Veteran's asthma is related to his active duty service and has been granted service connection. The Board finds that further examination is needed to determine the relationship between his sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, and his service-connected asthma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current sinusitis or asthma, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's COPD with an asthmatic component is granted as service connected, based on the evidence showing a current disability that had its onset during his active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD with complications due to medication, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by his military service.

The Board granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for increased evaluations for asthma. The RO continued a 10 percent disability rating for asthma from August 27, 2008 onwards but denied reopening of the hearing loss claim and granting an increase in rating prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma due to inadequate medical opinion and incomplete development of records. The Veteran contends that his current condition is related to in-service treatment, but a VA examiner did not consider this relevant finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and asthma, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD that comported with DSM-IV, and that asthma did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they were not shown during his active duty service from 1963 to 1966, and there is no evidence of their onset or aggravation due to such service. The disorders are more likely related to the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including chronic bronchitis and asthma, as well as an initial compensatory rating for the residuals of a fracture of the mandible were denied due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tachycardia was not incurred in service and denied his claim. The Board also noted that asthma is secondary to asbestos exposure but did not address its service connection.

The Veteran's asthma was diagnosed and treated during service, and the Board finds that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition existed prior to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for asthma is granted.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for asthma, a spot on the left lung, bilateral hearing loss disability, thrombocytopenia, and dermatophytosis of bilateral feet. The appeal was not about service connection for herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was found to be service-connected, and the appellant submitted a timely claim for accrued benefits. The Board finds that the appellant's claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and asthma were not manifested during his active military service, are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorders and ankle, hand, knee, and hip issues. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to August 6, 2005 and at 100 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence supported a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lung disability, asthma, is related to his in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition.