Asbestosis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, forgetfulness or memory loss, joint pain, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals prior to promulgation of a decision.

The reduction in the rating for the Veteran's pulmonary asbestosis from 30 percent to noncompensable was not proper, and the 30 percent rating is restored effective April 1, 2017.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for residuals of asbestos exposure, including asbestosis and sarcoidosis, is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder due to in-service chemical exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The hearing loss and dermatitis cases are still under review, as is the right knee disorder, asbestosis, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's asbestosis is related to asbestos exposure in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by asbestosis, COPD, and lung cancer. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of his death based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's asbestosis service connection has been granted, but the current rating is noncompensable. The Board finds that a new PFT is needed due to the Veteran’s hearing loss and inconclusive previous test results.

The Board has remanded the claims for asbestosis, COPD, emphysema, and bronchitis due to inadequate November 2015 VA examination report. The Veteran needs a new examination to clarify his pulmonary diagnosis(es) and their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of the Veteran's asbestosis with pleural plaques to determine its level of functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disorders are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's lung nodules due to asbestos exposure and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further evaluation as the symptoms have worsened since his last VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder associated with asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure and that any current condition is more likely due to civilian work environments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, including asbestosis, and for COPD secondary to asbestosis due to in-service asbestos exposure. The VA is required to obtain all relevant treatment records from various healthcare facilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2011.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, and COPD have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's asbestosis has not been properly evaluated due to missing relevant symptoms from the previous VA examination, and a new evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including asbestosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chloracne, peripheral artery disease, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.,The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his service on the USS Perry in Vietnam. His claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for asbestos related pleural calcifications and plaques is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of severity, including any relationship between his mild COPD and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's asbestosis is rated at 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also denied his claim for TDIU prior to March 29, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 3, 2010 for service-connected asbestosis and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.