Asbestosis decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection for asbestosis and injured lower lung field, and complete hysterectomy. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has a lung disability and whether it is related to his military service or post-service occupational exposure.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it before the Board made a decision.

The Veteran's lung disorder, diagnosed as asbestos related pleural plaque, is found to be due to his in-service asbestos exposure and service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further exposure assessments. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but denied service connection for a lung disability. The lung disability claim is based on the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service, which did not result in a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other respiratory condition related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asbestosis is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for asbestosis, as aggravated by CAD.

The Veteran's TBI and defective color perception are granted service connection. The respiratory condition, to include asbestosis, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is linked to his peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his respiratory disorders (asbestosis and COPD), all secondary to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's swelling of the hands due to a cold injury and arthritis of the bilateral hands, knees, and shoulders are denied as not related to active service.,The Veteran's asbestos exposure-related chronic disability is denied as there is no evidence of such exposure during service.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis or in-service incident linked to this condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis from February 27, 2015 due to the Veteran's post-bronchodilator results showing FVC at 72% of predicted and FEV-1 at 64% of predicted, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the asbestosis or COPD rating codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims as they are now moot.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his respiratory disorder and TDIU claim. The service connection issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's asbestosis claim, specifically needing an independent medical opinion to determine if he has any functional respiratory impairment related to asbestos exposure in service.

The Veteran's asbestosis with pleural thickening and fibrosis is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The appeals for service connection of the left-hand condition, right-hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, lung cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar area (head/neck cancer) are dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for lung cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except diabetes mellitus type II is remanded. The Board will seek to obtain private treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder to include as due to asbestos exposure, but has remanded it for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's mesothelioma and asbestosis were not service-connected. The Board found no evidence of mesothelioma during service, despite the Veteran's exposure to asbestos. As for asbestosis, while there was occupational exposure after service, it did not meet the criteria for service connection.

Service connection for a right rotator cuff tear, tonsillitis, asbestosis, asthma (claimed as lung condition), emphysema, and COPD is denied.,Nonservice-connected pension benefits are also denied.