Asthma Board decisions

The Veteran's asthma is presumed to have existed prior to his active service and was not permanently aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected asthma, effective October 31, 2006.

The Veteran's asthma was not shown to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by VA-administered cortisone injection and whether there was fault on VA's part in administering the injection.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's asthma was initially granted with a 10% evaluation prior to May 15, 2008. From that date, the VA assigned a 30% evaluation effective May 15, 2008.

The Veteran's asthma condition was present for some time prior to the November 26, 2004 treatment and did not meet the criteria for emergency medical care as it was not life-threatening or immediately hazardous.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private medical records, including a pulmonary function test from 1982. The issue of an effective date prior to September 19, 2000 for the 100% rating for bronchial asthma with emphysema will be reconsidered.

The Veteran did not have cor pulmonale or bronchial asthma during service, and there is no evidence of these conditions until after service. The Board finds that the cause of death was not caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for asthma and sinusitis have been fully resolved as the RO has granted these claims in a March 2010 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed restrictive pulmonary deficit is not etiologically related to service, and he does not have currently diagnosed residuals of pneumonia.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his period of service. The issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma, remains pending and requires further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current asthma disorder began during service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including asthma, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Veteran's asthmatic allergic bronchitis has required daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, meeting the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating. Her sinusitis is not rated separately as it does not meet the criteria for chronic frontal sinusitis with involvement of two or more adjacent cranial nerves.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of chronic bronchial asthma, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic laryngitis, and chronic pharyngitis were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that clear and unmistakable evidence shows the Veteran had a respiratory disability, likely allergy-induced or exercise-induced asthma, prior to service. The condition was not aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic pulmonary condition, to include asthma, bronchitis, and breathing problems is remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA respiratory examination.