Asthma decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, bronchitis, and asthma, due to in-service exposure to jet fuel and/or cold weather is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bronchial asthma is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, claiming she became disabled due to her service-connected migraines and lupus disabilities in February 2000. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine when the Veteran first became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bronchial asthma with intermittent bronchitis and residuals of post-operative giant cell tumor, right third finger are being remanded due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's asthma was granted an increased evaluation to 30 percent effective February 17, 2010. Service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA outpatient treatment records. Additionally, a more comprehensive examination of the Veteran's right leg disability is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the examination report and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bronchial asthma is being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, asthma, and carpal tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 21, 2009.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is granted service connection. The issues of asthma and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, ulcer disorder, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.,The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, low back disorder, hypertension, muscle disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder to include peripheral vascular disease and swelling, potassium deficiency, joint disorder, GERD, gallbladder disorder, bladder cancer, respiratory disorder to include asthma, chronic airway obstruction, shortness of breath, chest pain, and allergic disorder, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymia, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling, and the Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation based on his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical evidence related to the appellant's claimed conditions. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's fatal conditions were not service-connected, and the Board found that none of his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma as secondary to his service-connected idiopathic angioedema, finding that there is no medical evidence supporting this relationship.

The Veteran does not have asthma or peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities that were caused or aggravated by his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right leg disorder, left hip disorder, hearing loss, and respiratory disorder. The low back strain claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that were caused or aggravated by her service, or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for the claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet during his hearing. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.