Asbestosis decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear post-service asbestos exposure history and a need for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's lung condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The cases of respiratory condition, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and residuals stab wound, left forearm are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including as a result of asbestos and beryllium exposure.,The Board also denied service connection for hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure, including as a result of asbestos and beryllium exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added to the claims file, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) needs to be issued.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions provided by VA in previous examinations, and a new examination is required.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease and a lung disability due to withdrawal by the appellant. The cause of death is granted, with malignant mesothelioma being considered at least as likely as not caused by in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left leg disability and hypertension due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for asbestosis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung disorder, including COPD and asbestosis. The VA examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the diagnosed lung disorder was at least as likely as not caused by asbestos exposure in service and if it was aggravated by service-connected atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease, asbestosis, emphysema, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis with lung nodules have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current liver disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for asbestosis and residual scar, status-post removal of a pilonidal cyst are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, vision loss, sore throat, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence supporting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for asbestosis related lung disease has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the case.

Service connection for COPD is granted.,Service connection for a genitourinary disability, other than a prostate disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), retrograde ejaculation, or a voiding dysfunction, and to include as secondary to a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is denied. Service connection for a prostate disability, other than a voiding dysfunction and ED, to include as secondary to a TURP, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an asbestos-related lung disability, including lung cancer, is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The VA will seek additional records and schedule the Veteran for a new examination.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's lung function tests did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for asbestosis is granted. The claims for major depressive disorder and mood disorder are dismissed. The issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis, COPD, and asthma, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis but denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder other than asbestosis. The decision is based on the evidence showing that asbestosis was incurred in service, while the medical evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder other than asbestosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination opinions and non-compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis, including any diagnosed respiratory or pulmonary disability, is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of asbestosis has been dismissed because the Veteran requested withdrawal of his claim.