Asthma decisions — 2012

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma, is not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for asthma, chest pain, central scotoma, or congenital absence of left kidney. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's lung disability, diagnosed as bronchitis and asthma, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that the condition was incurred in service.,Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) including post-traumatic concussion headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including as secondary to radiation exposure. The Veteran's claims are supported by medical evidence and his own statements.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and chronic head injury residuals, specifically deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's pre-existing asthma was not aggravated by military service.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for service-connected bronchial asthma effective October 1, 2007. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for separate evaluations for obstructive sleep apnea and asthma was denied as the disabilities are rated under different diagnostic codes that cannot be combined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema, asthma, right lung pain, and halitosis are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders other than COPD were diagnosed decades after service and are not related to his active duty service, including exposure to 'stack gas' or chemical exposure during Project 112- SHAD.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic airway disease did not onset during service and is not causally related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for chronic lymphatic leukemia and a generalized respiratory condition, along with asthma, both secondary to mustard gas exposure.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's interstitial cystitis is currently rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for this rating. The Veteran does not have urinary dysfunction requiring an appliance or absorbent materials changed more than four times per day.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of both knees, bronchial asthma, and urinary tract infection. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease was also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for asthma, and the Board is dismissing this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify her Reserve service and obtain all outstanding medical records, including from the Birmingham VAMC and UAB Hoover Health Center. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's asthma and prostatitis and BPH are found to be related to his active duty service. The other claimed disabilities are not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is granted, while his claim for a lung disorder other than asthma is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2000, for the award of service connection for asthma has been denied as there is no evidence that he filed his initial claim before this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were granted, with a rating of 10 percent each. The claim for bronchial asthma was not addressed as it is separate from the other conditions.