Asthma decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current asthma or cervical spine disabilities, and thus service connection cannot be established for these conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for asthmatic bronchitis was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent effective November 1, 2008. The Board found the reduction improper and granted a higher rating of 30 percent beginning May 5, 2016.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents during service, including in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, to include as secondary to his service-connected pansinusitis/sinusitis, is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's July 2015 remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's asthma claim has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The neurological disorder claim remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and PTSD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of asbestosis and his lung conditions did not manifest in service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation. The Board also found that his lung conditions were less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, chronic heart disease, and seizure disorder are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service connection for bronchial asthma and bronchiectasis was granted, but the Board found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral parenchymal disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, as he possesses the physical capabilities necessary to perform sedentary work despite his symptoms.

The Veteran's application for educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill was denied because she did not meet the eligibility requirements due to her discharge from active duty not being due to a service-connected disability, and her claim was not timely filed within 10 years of her separation.

The Veteran's asthma and emphysema/COPD were not found to be service-connected due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure, and the current conditions are not considered chronic.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma did not manifest during service and was not caused by service. The low back disorder also did not manifest within one year of separation from service or be otherwise related to military service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a respiratory disability, to include as due to asthma, and has granted service connection based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stomach, shoulder, elbow, hip, wrist, knee, and asthma disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service, including service during the Persian Gulf War. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disability did not have its onset during active duty service and is not otherwise related to such service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lung disorders, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and asbestosis, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim was denied.