Asbestosis decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis, is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis and relationship to service. The case will be readjudicated after additional development of medical records and an examination by a NIOSH-certified B-reader.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis or COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a current respiratory disorder and concluding that any such disorders were not related to his military service.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a lung disorder due to asbestos exposure and concluded the Veteran's nodule is most likely non-specific lymphadenopathy, thus denying service connection for asbestosis or lung disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are causally related to active service. Service connection was denied for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability (asbestosis) is not etiologically related to his military service, including as due to any exposure to asbestos therein. Therefore, service connection for a lung disability, claimed as asbestosis, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate previous examinations and conflicting findings regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion from a board-certified VA pulmonologist to address the Veteran's current respiratory disorders and their possible relationship to his service. The Veteran asserts that he has asbestosis or other current lung disorder related to asbestos exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his pulmonary disability and hearing loss, including consideration of service exposure. The claims will be reconsidered following this development.

The Veteran's asbestosis with pleural plaques has been restored to a 30 percent evaluation effective September 20, 2011. The Board found the reduction improper and thus reinstated the original rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary disorder, diagnosed as asbestosis, is not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made. As a result, the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus, asbestosis, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes) were all found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's current respiratory disorder is related to in-service asbestos exposure. The Veteran served during active duty from April 1956 to June 1960, and there is no direct evidence linking his service to asbestos exposure. However, given the widespread exposure among Navy veterans and the Veteran's corroborated history of extra work in the boiler room as punishment, it is assumed that he was exposed to asbestos during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim of service connection for asbestosis will be addressed in light of all evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other lung disorder related to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an asbestos-related respiratory condition. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination, is necessary to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and evidence collection. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disability is on appeal.

The Veteran's asbestosis has not resulted in any of the criteria for a higher initial disability rating, and his current level of disability is adequately reflected by the currently assigned 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to decide the claims for asbestosis, skin condition, back disability, and diabetes mellitus. Additional information regarding exposure during service is needed.

The Veteran claims service connection for COPD, which he contends is due to asbestos exposure during his Navy service. The Board has determined that further development is necessary to corroborate the claimed asbestos exposure and to determine the nature and etiology of any current pulmonary disorder.