Asthma decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorders (emphysema and asthma), and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities) are not related to his military service or any event of service origin.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed pulmonary disorders and sleep apnea are not related to her active service, including any potential asbestos exposure. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma and type II diabetes mellitus were granted service connection as direct service-connected conditions. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma had its initial onset during his military service and the Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma are met.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, hearing loss disability, and lung disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and left side radiculopathy caused by cervical strain are also under review.

The Board found that the appellant's left foot callous pre-existed his period of ACDUTRA and was not aggravated by service. The respiratory condition (COPD and Asthma) is being remanded for further development.

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

The Veteran's asthma was found to be incurred in service, and his claim for headaches has been reopened. The Board finds that the new evidence received is sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated by service-connected bronchial asthma and/or sleep apnea. The Veteran's diabetes is less likely caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and a left knee disability, finding that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that her asthma preexisted service and was not aggravated by service. The decision summary explains the reasoning behind this conclusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a respiratory disorder, including residuals of pneumonia, bronchitis and/or asthma, as a result of his military service. The claim for testicular cancer is also denied.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating under VA's rating schedule. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values have consistently been above the threshold required for any higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The remaining claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gout, hearing loss, and asthma. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma and granted service connection based on a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease (asthma), and a nexus between the claimed in-service disease and the present disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, finding that the new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 9, 2007. His asthma remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma was aggravated by his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's asthma has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the current VA disability evaluation criteria, as his pulmonary function test results have consistently shown FEV1/FVC values below the threshold required for a 60% rating. The Board therefore denied an increased rating.