Asthma Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bronchial asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether any additional notice or development is warranted under the VCAA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's aortic insufficiency did not warrant a rating greater than 30 percent prior to January 12, 1998 and since then does not meet criteria for a rating greater than 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred in service and denied his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchial asthma and reactive bronchitis, but denied the claim for an undiagnosed respiratory illness.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic lung disorder, including asthma, asthmatic bronchitis and reactive airway disease. The evidence submitted since the April 1997 decision was not new and material.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's net worth was sufficient to cover his maintenance costs, including medical expenses. The case does not involve service connection issues.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The issue is whether this condition began during or is causally linked to any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of evidence, including a VA pulmonary examination and review of new medical evidence. The claims for an increased rating for bronchial asthma and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be considered together.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, variously classified.

The veteran's lung disorder and asthma are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the claims for increased rating for bronchial asthma and service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that new evidence did not reopen the previously denied claim for service connection. The veteran's hypertension and heart disease were found to be aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The VA determined that the veteran's asthma was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service-connected asthma, which was granted with a 30% disability rating effective from November 18, 1998. The case is being remanded to gather additional information and evidence regarding the timing of the initial claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam and grants this claim. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal involves the original assignment of a disability evaluation for asthma, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating from October 7, 1996, to July 20, 1997. The case is now remanded due to new evidence and changes in law.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to service, and the increase in severity during service is presumed due to the natural progression of the disease. For her allergic rhinitis, there were no polyps or significant obstruction.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the feet, and degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine were granted with a rating of 10 percent in each case.