Asbestosis decisions — 2005

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of the veteran's death and whether it is related to service. The appellant must provide any other information or evidence in her possession.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, is related to service. However, interstitial fibrosis (claimed as asbestosis) was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's asbestosis and pleural plaques have been granted a disability evaluation of 30 percent, effective June 16, 1994. The TDIU claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for additional medical examination and evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his diagnosed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and asbestosis. The veteran's chest pain and shortness of breath are found to be caused by his asbestosis, which is considered to interfere with normal employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disease, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a pulmonary disorder related to asbestos exposure in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected asbestosis did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent at any time during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disability, lung disability (claimed as due to asbestos exposure), hypertension, acute sinusitis, and back condition (claimed as resulting from herbicide exposure). The reasons were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's asbestosis is related to his military service, but his colon cancer is not shown to be caused by or aggravated by his exposure to asbestos.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung disorders are not related to his military service, but rather to post-service occupational asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's colon cancer is not related to asbestos exposure in service and denied his claim for service connection. The rating for asbestosis remains unchanged.

The Board found that the veteran did not have residuals of asbestos exposure related to his active service and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have asbestosis and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and respiratory residuals from asbestos exposure, but denied these claims. The ankle disorder claim was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current condition was not caused by exposure to asbestos during service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of asbestosis and concluded that the veteran's present diagnoses of COPD did not have their onset during active duty or were otherwise linked to exposure to asbestos.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent effective April 25, 2003. The RO must issue a statement of the case addressing his claims for service connection for hypertension, COPD, asbestosis, and peptic ulcer disease.