Asbestosis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lung disorder, bronchitis, and sleep apnea are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's gastric ulcer (gastric disorder) and liver disorder.

The Veteran's asbestosis has not been rated compensably, and he contends his condition is more severe than currently assigned. The Board orders a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for COPD and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran is also seeking a higher rating for his asbestosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records were silent for any respiratory complaints, but there is a probable likelihood that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired respiratory condition to include asbestosis is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition (also claimed as asbestosis), sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, Barrett's Esophagus/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis/celiac disease, and neurological effects (restless leg syndrome).

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot flat foot, and left foot flat foot. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder, including mesothelioma and asbestosis, is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. However, the effective dates prior to June 4, 2018 are denied.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which is an intermediary step between his service-connected PTSD and the claimed respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA opinion to determine if COPD is related to service or caused by asbestosis, a condition already found service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion, and requests that updated treatment records be obtained. The Veteran's respiratory disability is also being reviewed for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an asbestos-related lung disability, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed asbestos-related condition and concluding that his current respiratory conditions are not causally related to service.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's asbestos related pleural plaques, finding that the evidence did not show FVC or DLCO (SB) below the required thresholds.

The Veteran's asbestosis is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its severity and progression, as the current evaluation does not include all required pulmonary function tests.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the knees and ankles have been granted. The claim for asbestosis has been denied.,Service connection is now established for CHF.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, including asbestosis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected asbestos related pleural disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The appeals for service connection of PTSD and asbestosis are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for asbestosis.,Service connection for a heart disorder, claimed as a heart condition, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, is denied.