Asthma Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted a higher initial 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's asthma, but denied service connection for her bilateral shoulder disability. The claim for an increased rating for asthma is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma and environmental allergies were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected bronchial asthma, finding that the current level of severity does not warrant such an increase.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent assigned, as his disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6602.

The VA has determined that the veteran's asthma does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6602, as his pulmonary function tests do not show FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent predicted or a FEV-1/FVC ratio of 40 to 55 percent. The VA has also determined that he does not meet the criteria for monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, nor does he require intermittent courses of systemic corticosteroids.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus condition and congestive asthma, finding no evidence of current disability or etiology in service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis due to service-connected bronchial asthma. The heart disability, reduced blood circulation, spinal nerve damage, and diabetic retinopathy claims are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in the record or a causal relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is service-connected, as it began during his military service. The diabetes and heart disease are not found to be directly related to service or secondary to asthma medication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran requires at least three courses per year of systemic corticosteroids for asthma. The claim will be adjudicated again after this development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hyperlipidemia, a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma), and a right foot neuroma. The appeals are all denied due to lack of verified stressor for PTSD, lack of evidence linking current conditions to service, and no medical opinion establishing a secondary relationship between diabetes mellitus and the claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of various service-connected disabilities were denied by the Board. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather about the appropriate disability ratings.

The Board found that the veteran does not have asthma or restrictive airway disease that is attributable to military service, including any in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and incomplete medical opinions.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and attempting to locate service medical records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disabilities to include asthma and depression were not incurred or aggravated during military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and asthma have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of new evidence, including a private opinion linking his hypertension to his service-connected heart disease, sleep apnea, and bronchial asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.