Reactive Airway Disease

[JB3AFSP2]

Does anyone know if the VA considers Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) as Asthma? I've heard that there is some debate in the medical community as to whether or not RAD is just a form of asthma. I didn't find anything in the VA ratings guide regarding RAD.

[Berta]

Sinusitis also is a compensable condition- and many allergy sufferes have this condition too:

"Sinusitis/Rhinosinusitis

This veteran's sinusitis/rhinosinusitis has been evaluated as

10 percent disabling under 38 C.F.R. § 4.97, Diagnostic Code

6512, which pertains to chronic frontal sinusitis.

Diagnostic Codes 6510 through 6514 pertain to various types

of sinusitis, each of which is rated pursuant to a general

rating formula for sinusitis. Diagnostic Code 6510 pertains

to chronic pansinusitis sinusitis; 6512 pertains to chronic

frontal sinusitis; 6513 pertains to chronic maxillary

sinusitis; and 6514 pertains to chronic sphenoid sinusitis.

Under the general rating formula, a noncompensable evaluation

contemplates sinusitis detected by X-ray only. A 10 percent

evaluation is warranted for one or two incapacitating

episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting

four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-

incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized

by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. A 30

percent evaluation is warranted when there are three or more

incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring

prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment,

or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of

sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent

discharge or crusting. A 50 percent evaluation is assigned

following radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or;

near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain and

tenderness of affected sinus, and purulent discharge or

crusting after repeated surgeries. A note following this

section provides that an incapacitating episode of sinusitis

means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a

physician. 38 C.F.R. § 4.97."

Also I am not a doctor but asthma- is of manner of bronchial asthma can lend to COPD :

http://www.va.gov/vetapp03/files/0312028.txt

I certainly feel that you should file the claim if you havent yet as it could get worse even before they even read the claim.

It still might take a medical opinion to link the inservice notations in your SMRs as to allergies to your present diagnosis.

[JB3AFSP2]

I'm definitely going to put in for sinusitis compensation, but just not yet. I'm following the advice of Jim Strickland from the VAWatchdog website. I've got one condition that's well documented and I shouldn't have a problem getting at least 10%. I need the decision before August 31, 2009. That's my 5 year anniversary date of separation...I did a one year tour in Saudi Arabia from 1999 -2000 so if I read the rules correctly I should be a Priority 6. If I don't have a decision before that date, I'll drop to a Priority 8g and won't be able to enroll. I'm concerned that if I put in for my other issues, I may be fighting them well after that date, given how backlogged the VA is. Since I've separated, I've been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and GERD. I have insurance through my job but my medicines cost considerably more than if I got them through the VA. I'm trying to transition from Priority 6 to whatever priority my SCDs move me without losing my enrollment and having to go back to my insurance to pay for my drugs. Once I've got my rating, I'll go back and submit my other conditions. This way I'll at least be able to get the medicines to deal with what's bothering me the most now.