Asthma decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part in furnishing medical treatment.,VA did not provide evidence showing that the cortisone injection caused an increase in blood sugar level and contributed substantially or materially to cause death.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no current evidence of a separate respiratory disorder other than his service-connected asthma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is related to her active duty service, including her history of bronchitis and asthma.

The Veteran's asthma claim is being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and pes planus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to errors in the previous rating decisions and incomplete evaluations. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable evaluation for otitis media and an increased evaluation for asthmatic bronchitis with recurrent laryngitis and bronchopneumonia are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and addressing the claim for an increased rating under prior criteria. The TDIU claim must also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected respiratory disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected asthma is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable prior to December 30, 2003. The Board found that the effective date for TDIU should be set at December 30, 2003, and denied special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's asthma, which preexisted service, was aggravated by active duty and she is eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, body strain of the chest and abdomen, and an extraschedular rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The issues of increased ratings for asthma and left eye pseudophakia will be considered on both schedular and extra-schedular bases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, peripheral neuropathy, joint disease of the hands and knees, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to exposure to asbestos. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides or other Agent Orange compounds during his military service.

The Board has determined that asthma was not present in service or within one year of discharge, and thus cannot be service-connected. The other conditions are also being remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, diagnosed as asthma, is not related to his service or exposure to asbestos. The weight of the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's asthma was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, as secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis, is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for a new respiratory evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, including as due to bilateral tinea pedi/unguium (claimed as bilateral foot fungus), is being remanded for further development and consideration.