Asbestosis decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim of service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and asbestosis are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, chronic sinusitis, and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the veteran's treatment at Tyndall AFB Hospital and determining his asbestos exposure during service. The appellant is also to be provided notice regarding previously service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran has asbestosis and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asbestosis should be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis. The Board also finds that the veteran is entitled to service connection for asbestos-related lung disease incurred in service.

The veteran's bronchial asthma with a history of asbestosis is currently rated at 30 percent disabling and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The VA examiner determined that his service-connected respiratory disability does not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asbestosis is related to his asbestos exposure during active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current skin cancer or a diagnosed lung disorder due to asbestos exposure. The service connection for polymyalgia rheumatica is denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service and it was first diagnosed many years after service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques, claimed as asbestosis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the presence and etiology of bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis, including obtaining VA and private medical records, conducting a VA examination, and determining whether there are any SSA disability benefits records.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from asbestosis or other asbestos-related lung disability and concluded that his current lung disability, diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with no evidence of asbestosis, was not incurred in service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis was denied.,A rating of 10% for PTSD from October 1, 2004 to April 3, 2006 was granted. However, a higher rating is not warranted after April 4, 2006.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from asbestosis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for asbestosis and bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a left knee condition. The RO must provide additional development and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis and finds that a current diagnosis of asbestosis was incurred in service. The benefit of doubt is resolved in favor of the veteran.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for asbestosis and memory loss as a result of asbestos exposure.

The VA determined that the veteran did not have asbestosis and found no service connection was warranted due to lack of evidence.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other pulmonary pathology attributable to his period of active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for asbestosis was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and dry eye syndrome due to lack of current demonstration of these conditions.