Asbestosis decisions — 2018

The appeal for an increased rating for asbestosis and a total rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

Entitlement to a higher rating for hypothyroidism was denied.,Service connection granted for asbestos-related pleural disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asbestosis and that any mild intermittent asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The issues of increased rating for left elbow bursitis, service connection for cervical disability, and service connection for OSA are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's asbestosis has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current level of severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, COPD and chronic bronchitis, and whether the separate evaluation for GERD was correctly terminated effective July 1, 2013, and combined with the evaluation of duodenal ulcer. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a lung disorder, including asbestosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression), finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to active duty. The arthritis claim is remanded due to the lack of a VA examination addressing its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's cause of death, including obtaining relevant medical records and developing his exposure claims. The service connection claim will be evaluated based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's asbestosis was granted service connection because the medical opinions supported his claim that he was exposed to asbestos during service, leading to his current condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to usual interstitial pneumonia, was found to be related to his service-connected asbestosis, which developed from asbestos exposure during service. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record after a Substantive Appeal was filed. The VA treatment records detailing the Veteran's treatment for her claimed conditions are relevant and must be reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary asbestosis, but the issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and needs to be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of asbestosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service. The Board noted that while the Veteran claimed exposure during basic training, there were no records or medical evidence supporting this claim. Additionally, the VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s asbestosis is more likely related to occupational exposures post-service.

The Veteran's asbestosis is currently rated at 30 percent prior to April 23, 2018 and at 60 percent from that date. The Board has found the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a fractured vertebra, bilateral eye condition, asbestosis, and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of hypertension. The claim for service connection for thyroid condition secondary to asbestos exposure and/or herbicide exposure was reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to lack of evidence regarding Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pleural plaques (claimed as asbestosis) is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum from the January 2017 VA examiner.

The Veteran's asbestosis claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his service and exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine if a diagnosis of asbestosis is appropriate, and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disability and multiple myeloma are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining dose assessments related to ionizing radiation exposure.