Asthma Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's current lung disorder, including obstructive lung disease and asthma, is directly related to his military service in Iraq. The VA medical experts have provided strong evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her inability to be contacted, and the case will be further reviewed after obtaining updated information.

The Veteran's lung disorder, including sarcoidosis and asthma, is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its likely etiology due to asbestos exposure during service. The RO must also obtain all outstanding medical records from the Jamaica Plain VAMC and private treatment facilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma, which caused his death, was not related to service and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's asthma was granted a rating of 30 percent effective February 13, 2006. The previous ratings were maintained for the earlier periods.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bronchial asthma. The Board has determined that additional development is required to determine the nature and etiology of her condition, including whether it existed prior to service or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for asthma, which he contends developed due to exposure to burning garbage and feces during his deployment in Iraq. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence submitted by the appellant in January 2006. The issues on appeal include entitlement to restoration of a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected bronchial asthma, an increased disability rating for bronchial asthma, and TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and asthma have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to these issues.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeals regarding initial increased ratings for right and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his pulmonary sarcoidosis with asthmatic bronchitis was granted, effective July 24, 2009. He is now rated at 60 percent for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected conditions to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is found to be the primary cause of several secondary conditions, including sciatica, neuropathy of the feet and hands, decreased circulation in the feet and hands, restless leg syndrome, and a bilateral hip disability. The scars from his spine surgery are also recognized as related to this condition.

The Veteran's asthma is found to be service-connected, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of rating migraine headaches and degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), asthma, and intractable plantar keratoses. The effective dates for the 20% evaluations were not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The appellant is also not entitled to non-service-connected death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service and accrued benefits because her claim was untimely filed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic obstructive lung disease with history of asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional private and VA records, including a pulmonary function test.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate notice under VCAA. The Veteran died from acute myeloid leukemia, with pneumonia as a significant condition contributing to death.

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection, but the RO/AMC is instructed to obtain a new VA examination and review all outstanding records before determining an appropriate initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides or other chemicals during service, and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.