Asthma Board decisions

The Board found that the RO improperly reduced the disability evaluation for the veteran's asthmatic bronchitis from 30 to 10 percent effective as of August 1, 1981. The reduction was upheld for the anxiety disorder with depressive features. However, the termination of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability was found proper.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, gastritis, asthmatic bronchitis, and atypical psychosis. The RO assigned noncompensable evaluations to these conditions in June 1993.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of asthma and heart disease as being related to service, including his Persian Gulf service. The veteran's current conditions are not considered well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a cardiovascular disability and an increased rating for bronchial asthma, finding that his claim was not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for bronchial asthma was remanded multiple times. The case is now back with the Board, and another remand is required to complete necessary development before a decision can be made.

The veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, effective April 2, 1997. Prior to that date, it was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is well-grounded, as there is medical evidence linking his current lung conditions to exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke during active duty. The RO must now provide a VA examination to determine if this link is at least as likely as not caused by the veteran's service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for cavernous hemangioma, varicose veins, and initial evaluations for pulmonary disorder (asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and atherosclerotic heart disease are granted. The claim for service connection for depression is also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for asthma, PTSD, and a skin disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma in January 1989, finding that his preexisting condition existed prior to service entrance and was not aggravated by active duty. The veteran has now attempted to reopen this claim with new evidence but the Board found it insufficient.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, and asthma as secondary to exposure to mustard gas in service. The veteran's chronic restrictive pulmonary disease is not due to the mustard gas exposure.

The veteran's bronchial asthma has been rated at 30 percent since 1995. The most recent rating decision granted a 60 percent rating based on the severity of her symptoms, including frequent attacks and need for intermittent inhalation or oral bronchodilator therapy.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and chronic allergic pruritus, finding that these conditions began during service. The claim for post-traumatic stress disorder is well grounded but the RO will attempt to verify the veteran's reported stressors before making a final determination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for asthma. The claim is now considered well-grounded, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if there is any current disability related to her preexisting asthma.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as secondary to service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for asthma, denial of a fractured right jaw claim as not well-grounded, and denial of PTSD as not incurred during military service.

The veteran's claim of service connection for asthma is well-grounded and the Board finds that his asthma was aggravated during a period of active duty training in June 1987. The case will be remanded to allow for further development, including an examination.

The veteran's seasonal asthma, which requires intermittent inhalational therapy, is granted a 10% evaluation.