Asthma Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory conditions, including emphysema, asthma, and COPD, are not service-connected due to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1103, which bars service connection for disabilities resulting from disease or injury attributable to tobacco use in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being requested and reviewed, as well as for obtaining treatment records from VAMCs.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sarcoidosis, bronchial asthma, and lymphadenopathy in the lung are not related to his military service. The claims for increased ratings for hypertension and neuritis have also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma and did not address the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma and remanded it for further development. The pseudofolliculitis barbae claim is denied as there is no current manifestation of the condition.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bronchial asthma and rhinosinusitis and pansinusitis, as the evidence does not support ratings higher than the current 30% and 10% respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as of May 18, 2004. The right ankle condition and fibromyalgia claims are not addressed due to lack of service connection.

The veteran's claimed conditions of asthma, diabetes mellitus, and a visual disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma and granted it. The issues of secondary service connection for various conditions are addressed in a separate remand.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a comprehensive VA examination to assess the appellant's ability to receive aid and attendance benefits due to her disabilities.

The Board has determined that asthma clearly and unmistakably existed prior to the veteran's entrance onto active duty, and did not undergo any chronic increase in severity during or as a result of his periods of active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, alopecia areata, and skin disability other than alopecia areata, all claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active duty or a link between them and military service.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma was not incurred during his active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchial asthma with allergic rhinitis warrants no more than a 30 percent evaluation, as his FEV-1 was between 56 to 70 percent predicted. The disability does not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of both knees and asthma, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's period of active service.,The RO previously denied service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis in January 1988. The veteran did not appeal this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma and chronic tonsillitis, finding that his conditions did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent for asthma or any compensable evaluation for chronic tonsillitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung disease other than asbestosis is not related to service, but has found that he currently has asbestosis and this condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected asthma disability prior to March 8, 2001.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and asthma, due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for clarification of the type of hearing desired and scheduling a Board hearing.