Asthma Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sinus condition, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome and jaw surgery. The claim for a spine disorder was denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability and chronic sinusitis, as well as service connection for a respiratory disorder, are being remanded due to the failure to schedule VA examinations. The Veteran reported an accident that prevented him from attending the scheduled exams.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including asbestosis, asthma, and COPD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's suicide was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and denied claims for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was denied in 1973, but new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and no higher since it meets criteria for such a rating. Other claims have also been addressed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's asthma has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation, as her FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC measurements have consistently been above the threshold required for a 60% rating. The use of a nebulizer does not qualify her for a 60% rating based on requiring monthly visits to a physician.

The Veteran's bronchitis with asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to June 5, 1998 and at 60 percent as of that date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lung disease and granted service connection for asthma. The Veteran's atypical reactive airway disease with allergic rhinitis is also found to be related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD with asthmatic element is not related to service or any incident of service origin, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the withdrawal of his appeals for increased ratings for left ankle disorder and right knee disorder. The remaining issues of increased ratings for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and asthma are being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that there is a link between the Veteran's current pulmonary disabilities, including asthma and bronchiectasis, and his time in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, asthma, and chalazion removal of both eyes were denied. The RO had already granted a 20% rating for the right shoulder disability as of March 22, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of right wrist fracture, service connection for chronic respiratory disorder (claimed as bronchial asthma), and service connection for gastrointestinal disorder. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for asthma prior to August 19, 2009 and beginning August 19, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including reactive airway disease and bronchial asthma exacerbation, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's asthma has been rated at 30 percent since the appeal began. However, given his need for daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy and moderate corticosteroids, a higher 60 percent rating is now granted.