Asbestosis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected asbestosis is being remanded due to the need for further development, including review of his VA claims folder by an appropriate medical practitioner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, an increased rating for his service-connected pleural thickening and fibrosis due to inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's current lung disorder is related to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his respiratory disability and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the fair preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including Parkinson's disease and tremors, a respiratory disorder claimed as asbestos exposure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, hypertension, prostate disability, and a respiratory disability (claimed as allergies, hay fever, and asthma). The claims were either not supported by the evidence or new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and asbestosis are being remanded due to the need for VCAA compliance, clarification of medical records, and further examination.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's COPD to service, including his exposure to asbestos in service. The COPD is instead linked to his long history of smoking.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis and emphysema is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected disabilities or medications, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's asbestosis was previously granted a 30 percent rating prior to February 6, 2002. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for asbestosis after this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for an award of TDIU are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asbestos related pleural disease does not warrant a compensable initial evaluation, as his respiratory function is currently within normal limits and he does not have any current impairment attributable to this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The lung disorder claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lung condition, including asbestosis, was not present in service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for asbestosis, coronary artery disease, headaches, visual disorder, and cervical spine disorder were denied. The claims were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, high cholesterol, hypertension, and elevated eye pressure to include glaucoma were denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted with a rating of 20%. His claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, blocked nose, skin condition, spinal cord or low back injury, respiratory disorder (claimed due to asbestos exposure), and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of service origin for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected asbestosis has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic respiratory disorders (including pneumonia and/or asbestosis) and coronary artery disease, including the residuals of coronary artery bypass grafting. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.