Asthma Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 10, 2002, for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to lack of factual ascertainability of his inability to work prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that bronchial asthma and cor pulmonale were not caused by or related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for a compensable rating for asthmatic bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for lung disability. The Veteran's lung disability is now subject to further review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for bronchial asthma with bronchiectasis as there is no pending appeal before it.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the final July 1980 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's asthma was incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including COPD and asthma, claimed as the result of inservice asbestos exposure. The case is being remanded to obtain updated pulmonary function test results and additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting reasons for his discharge from the Marine Corps, including asthma and unsatisfactory performance. The VA needs clarification on whether he was discharged due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's asthma and pes planus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence of preexistence of both conditions prior to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with asthma is rated at 50 percent, and his migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent from October 24, 2007, through February 7, 2010. The rating for the migraine headaches was increased to 30 percent as of February 8, 2010.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for asthma or sleep apnea, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted. For his respiratory disability, the initial rating prior to October 30, 2009, and a higher rating beginning October 30, 2009, were granted.

PTSD and arthritis of the knees were denied, while asthma was granted.,The denial for PTSD is due to lack of confirmed in-service stressors. Arthritis of the knees has no evidence within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her service-connected bronchial asthma and a TDIU rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The VA denied service connection for COPD and asthma, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and diabetes. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's COPD with an asthmatic component was rated at 30 percent prior to December 28, 2006 and increased to 60 percent thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma had its onset in-service and persisted since separation, warranting service connection. The right hip disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5253.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lung disability, including COPD, which he claims was caused by asbestos exposure during his naval service. The Board has determined that the necessary development of evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure and VA treatment records have not been completed.