Asthma decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back and psychiatric conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma and low back disability have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma has been rated at 60 percent, and she meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including her knee disabilities and depression, preclude her from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals regarding effective dates prior to August 18, 2003 for the grants of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, eczema, and bronchial asthma have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected disabilities and for service connection for additional conditions has been withdrawn. The Veteran's daughter, M.E.W., is recognized as the 'helpless child' of the Veteran for VA compensation purposes.

The Board finds that the Veteran's asthma and deviated septum are not related to service or a service-connected disability, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's asthma, tonsillitis, and laryngitis are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 60% effective March 13, 2013. The earlier date of claim for an increased rating is not factually ascertainable.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection with a 30% disability rating effective February 9, 1998. The VA found that the pre-bronchodilator pulmonary function test results were sufficient to support this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and examinations. The issues of service connection, disability ratings, TDIU, and competency are all pending.

The Veteran's left wrist condition, diagnosed as a ganglion cyst, warrants a compensable rating of 10 percent. The Board has granted service connection for this condition and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and found that the Veteran's current asthma is related to her active service. The other issues on appeal are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeals of his claims seeking higher ratings for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis were withdrawn by his representative in September 2009, and he did not timely reassert these appeals. The August 2009 rating decision is therefore dismissed as the Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to deficiencies in the December 2010 VA examination report and the need to address the Veteran's theory of service connection based on in-service exposure to solvents.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a vocational evaluation and clarification of his disability benefits.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was received by VA on January 3, 2013. The effective date of the grant of TDIU is set at this date as there is no evidence showing that it was factually ascertainable that TDIU was warranted in the year prior to the date of claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for spinal and heart disabilities, but denied the claim for chronic respiratory disorder. The Veteran's in-service respiratory illnesses are not considered to be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a pulmonary disease, including emphysema and asthma, which he claims was caused by pneumonia during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain records from the Air Force bases where the Veteran served.