The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been manifested by shortness of breath, wheezing, and intermittent cough that requires inhalational bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory therapy on a daily basis. Pulmonary function test findings show no worse than FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent predicted or FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent predicted. The Veteran does not require monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations or at least three courses of systemic corticosteroids per year, warranting no higher than a 30% rating under DC 6602.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's asthma has been manifested by daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory therapy but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his pulmonary function test results do not show FEV-1 of less than 40 percent predicted, FEV-1/FVC of less than 40 percent, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure.
- Claimed conditions
- Bronchial Asthma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0926848
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0926848.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma is found to have aggravated his pre-existing cardiovascular condition, contributing substantially and materially to his cause of death.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate 50 percent disability rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, as it is prohibited by law to assign separate ratings for coexisting respiratory disabilities.
- Denied
The appeal to revise, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), an October 2020 rating decision's assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea with bronchial asthma was denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.