Asbestosis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's asbestosis and etiology of his diabetes mellitus, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, and varicose veins.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis), and service connection for a respiratory disorder other than pulmonary fibrosis are all remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to asbestosis caused by in-service asbestos exposure. The appeal regarding burial benefits is remanded.

Your claim for a respiratory disability other than asbestos-related lung abnormalities has been resolved, and you are now receiving a 60% rating for COPD. The Board dismissed your appeal as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of residuals of tonsillitis, as there is no indication that the Veteran currently has any residual symptoms from his service-connected tonsillitis.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied due to a lack of current evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional evidence and a new medical opinion regarding his respiratory disability, including asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary asbestosis is being remanded for additional records and an updated examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for asbestos-related lung disease due to a lack of VA examinations and ineffective communication with the Veteran. The issues remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 15, 2015 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for anxiety disorder with PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis, COPD, and OSA has been denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support these claims.,Regarding hypertension, the Veteran submitted medical journal articles suggesting a link to herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus, but no competent medical opinion was provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, COPD, and emphysema due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The VA examiner found no current diagnosis of asbestosis based on chest x-rays and CT scans, and post-service records consistently diagnosed the Veteran with COPD and emphysema.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for TDIU and an increased rating for asbestosis prior to April 29, 2015. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient in-service medical records and the need to obtain additional private treatment records. The Veteran's lay assertions regarding his conditions will be considered, but without supporting documentation.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims, including evaluations for various conditions and service connection requests.

The Board has remanded the cases of asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and congestive heart failure for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asbestosis, to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for cause of death.

The Board has denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for asbestosis with pulmonary nodules, but has remanded it due to unclear representation of severity by a July 2016 pulmonary function test.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asbestos-related pleural disease, bilateral hearing loss, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension due to further development being necessary. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional examinations and evidence collection.