Asbestosis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's interstitial lung disease/asbestosis is rated at a 60 percent prior to December 6, 2017, and a 100 percent rating since then.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos exposure should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the other conditions are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's respiratory conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lung condition and for an increased rating for headaches due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for diverticulitis and asbestosis, due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, including asbestosis, COPD and bronchiectasis, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons in a previous decision. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's condition is more likely due to a long history of smoking and not related to in-service exposures or service-connected asbestosis.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic bronchitis. The reduction of the Veteran's rating for duodenal ulcer, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), from 30 percent to 20 percent was upheld.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis as secondary to left knee arthritis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's left knee arthritis was not shown to have manifested within the applicable presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,Service connection for right knee arthritis was also denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to interstitial lung disease (asbestosis) with ischemic cardiomyopathy being a significant contributing condition. The appellant contends that the Veteran’s PTSD contributed to his heart disability, which in turn contributed to his death. However, the VA examination did not provide sufficient evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's initial service connection for asbestosis has been granted, but he is seeking a higher rating. The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not being contacted for an examination related to his asbestosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and asbestosis, finding that there was no evidence of such disabilities beginning during or being related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, and lung disorder (asbestosis).,The Board found no current disability related to the Veteran's in-service complaints of joint pain and did not find evidence of asbestosis during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for right arm disability and lung condition due to asbestos exposure are remanded as new evidence has been submitted, but further examination is needed to determine the nature of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new VA examination of the Veteran's calcified pleural plaques, residuals of asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestos-related disease (claimed as chronic respiratory disorders and allergies) has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed because the issue of service connection has already been resolved.