Asthma Board decisions

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, but determined that the evidence did not establish that the condition was incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's preexisting asthma is presumed to have existed prior to his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's asthma was initially shown during peacetime service and is granted as service connected. The claims for gynecological disability (including ovarian cysts and PMS) and breast abnormality are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma claim is not well-grounded, while his psychiatric disorder claim is well-grounded. The case will be remanded to further develop facts pertinent to the psychiatric disorder claim.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 100 percent rating from April 13, 1990 to November 1, 1996. His asthma was rated at 30 percent since April 13, 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic lung disorder is more likely than not related to pneumonia during service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied claims for service connection for COPD and asthma, a bilateral knee disorder, and the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, PTSD, and bronchial asthma. The veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions were not well-grounded, and new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent effective July 15, 1997. The respiratory disorder (bronchial asthma) has been rated as 30 percent since February 1993.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's bronchial asthma to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted. The decision is considered final as it was affirmed by a court ruling.

The VA determined that the veteran's bronchial asthma is currently evaluated at a 30 percent disability rating, which is the maximum evaluation available under current criteria.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected disability pension was denied as the earliest effective date assignable is December 29, 1994.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma and service connection for residuals of a right eye injury. The VA found that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar segments of his spine remains at 10 percent, and hemorrhoids are not compensable.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for asthma and found no basis to grant a higher rating. The veteran's shrapnel wounds have been rated as non-compensable.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and found that the veteran's COPD with asthma warranted a 30% rating from March 15, 1995. The effective date of this award was not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and awarded TDIU benefits effective December 5, 1997. The attorney is eligible to receive a fee of up to 20% of past-due benefits from this award.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, asthma, and chronic sinusitis. The rating assigned for right shoulder disability is 20 percent. Service connection for migraine headaches and organic disability manifested by chronic abdominal pain remains in controversy.