Asthma decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bronchial asthma with rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling another VA compensation examination.

The Veteran's asthma, with associated fatigue, is service-connected. The status of his respiratory disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service connected sleep apnea and asthma, which were rated as 50 percent disabling. The case has been remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service prior to March 1, 2007 was under honorable conditions and is not a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for asthma, and the Veteran's current respiratory issues are attributed to tobacco use. As such, his claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected asthma and right retropatellar pain syndrome, finding that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to March 14, 2006 and increased to 30 percent effective March 14, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran met criteria for a 30 percent rating based on daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability (including asthma) was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the pre-existing condition did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's lung disorders, including emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, are being remanded for additional development to determine their relationship to service, specifically Agent Orange exposure. Right lung pain and halitosis are also being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed respiratory disorder is related to active duty service or exposure to asbestos and/or ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's asthma has not required inhalational bronchodilator therapy or any other medication. There have been no documented asthma attacks. Pulmonary function test findings taken pre-bronchodilator were greater than a FEV-1 of 80 percent predicted, or a FEV-1/FVC of 80 percent predicted.

The Veteran's preexisting allergic asthma was aggravated by service, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated assessment of his employment handicap and eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of asthma is found to be related to her active military service, and the Board grants service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic cough with rhinitis is found to be the cause of his current obstructive sleep apnea and reactive airway disease/asthma, thus granting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and asthma was granted, with the effective date set at March 31, 2008. The appeal pertained to his entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which he claimed as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary fibrosis and asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral glaucoma and asthma with allergies due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran claims service connection for left-sided facial weakness, which she believes is related to her allergic rhinitis and hearing loss. The Board has ordered a VA ENT examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left-sided facial weakness.