Asthma decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation records and Social Security Administration records. He also needs an updated VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's breathing problems were not permanently aggravated by his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and asthma based on the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service noise exposure and symptom onset.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the claims are supported by current diagnoses and a medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The claims for service connection are being returned to the RO for rescheduling of the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, a spinal disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, medial epicondylitis, and colon polyps, were denied as the evidence did not show their onset during active military service or within an applicable presumptive period thereafter.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an organic heart disorder other than coronary artery disease, but denied a higher rating for asthma. The issues are considered 'mixed' as some aspects of both claims were granted and others were not.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bronchial asthma did not worsen during his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the service member was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which rendered him unemployable. As such, he is granted accrued benefits for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims due to uncertainty regarding the periods of active and inactive duty training, which is necessary for proper service connection determination.

The Veteran does not have a respiratory disability, claimed as asthma, that is attributable to military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board found that the Veteran's bronchial asthma clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his military service, but was aggravated by service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, which preexisted service and was aggravated by his military service, did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma, finding that his pre-existing asthma did not worsen during service and thus could not be considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lung disease with pneumonia and asthma were not granted service connection, as the claim was previously denied. The decision is final.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including COPD and emphysema, are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD. The evidence received since the November 2002 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability, asthma, and stomach disability. The appeals were not granted as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.