Asbestosis Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip disability, tinnitus, and unspecified disability due to radiation exposure is withdrawn. The RO followed proper procedures in discontinuing SMC based on need for aid and attendance and restoring entitlement to specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's respiratory and eye disorders are not service-connected, as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that the current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to asbestos exposure.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current pulmonary disorder and his service, including exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left elbow is found to be as likely as not related to his active duty service. The Board grants this claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a respiratory disorder including asbestosis, which he claims was caused by exposure to asbestos insulation in service. The appeal is currently remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from Princeton Community Hospital and Dr. V.P.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asbestosis or an asbestos exposure-related disease, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current lung disability, including asbestosis. The Veteran's service records confirm his service aboard Navy vessels where he was exposed to asbestos. He also worked in a papermill post-service and smoked until 1976.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no competent and probative evidence linking the Veteran's current respiratory disorder to his military service or exposure to asbestos.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have asbestosis and therefore, his claim for service connection for a lung disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected pulmonary asbestosis and its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's COPD is related to his service-connected asbestosis, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a lung disorder related to asbestosis, which is consistent with service connection due to exposure during his Navy service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lung disorder, including asbestosis and COPD, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his in-service work as a welder.

The Veteran does not have asbestosis that was incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no credible evidence of asbestos exposure during his active duty.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, a heart condition, hypertension, and hepatitis A. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and interpretation of X-ray films by a B-reader, as there is conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has asbestosis or any asbestos-related respiratory disorder. The examiner will also need to determine if any current respiratory disorder is related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary disorder, including as a result of exposure to asbestos, is denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to service or to asbestos exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder present in service and concluded that the Veteran's current COPD and asbestosis are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's asbestosis was initially denied for an initial compensable rating from March 15, 1997 to September 25, 1998. From February 16, 2005 onwards, he received a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis, finding that there is no competent evidence of record linking his in-service asbestos exposure to his current condition.