Asthma decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was reopened, and she received a 10 percent rating effective March 7, 2005. The RO also granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2000 for the 10 percent rating assigned to her left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for asthma. However, the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not considered service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no direct or presumptive evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, and his obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is currently rated at 60 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's lung disability, asthma, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation folder and an opinion regarding his employability. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, including asthma, was not caused or aggravated by any incident of active service. Service connection for a respiratory condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, including emphysema and COPD, on the basis that it began during active duty. Service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure is also granted.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal seeking a restored 100 percent rating for his service-connected asthma. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has ordered that the claim be reopened due to the receipt of new and material evidence, and remanded for additional development. The case is now being returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Veteran's asthma and ulcerative colitis are being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to mustard gas during service, which could potentially establish service connection for his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability, including asthma, was not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left deviated nasal septum.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a present disability (tinnitus) which began in service and has persisted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability as aggravation of a preexisting condition, and his asthma is found to have existed at entry into service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disabilities, including asthma and COPD, are related to her service. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as her combined schedular rating is 30%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis. The Board also found that there is no evidence of an exceptional or unusual disability picture, and thus did not find extraschedular consideration warranted.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to April 6, 2010 and increased to 30 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations for the service-connected hearing loss and to determine if allergies, asthma, and sleep apnea are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma, COPD, and right hip tendonitis as they are not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to October 22, 2009 and at 60 percent from October 22, 2009. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.,The Veteran's asthma did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure or require daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids.