Asbestosis Board decisions

The veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for asbestosis, but noted that additional medical examination may be needed to clarify any current lung disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to asbestos exposure or asbestosis, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disorder due to asbestos exposure and in-service cigarette smoking, but granted new and material evidence for the skin disorder claim.,Service connection was not established for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of asbestos exposure, and his breathing disorder, irregular heart beat, and skin cancer are not shown to be related to service or any presumptive conditions due to herbicide exposure. His left testicular tumor and liver tumor are also not shown to be related to service or any presumptive conditions. The veteran's PTSD is rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board dismissed the appeal concerning an increased evaluation for hearing loss. The claims of service connection for a lung disability and coronary artery disease were denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The veteran's service-connected asbestos-related pleural disease has worsened, and he is seeking a higher initial disability rating than the current 30 percent. The VA has remanded the case for further evaluation to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis or COPD, and denied his claim.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the increased rating for asbestosis is denied. The Board found that there was no factual ascertainability of an increase in disability prior to October 29, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete verification of her periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training. Additional VA examinations will be scheduled to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right eye disability, left eye disability, hemorrhoids, sinus disability, sleep apnea, and asbestosis. The veteran's claims have not been substantiated.

The veteran is seeking service connection for asbestosis, but the VA has not met its duty to assist due to missing service medical records and a lack of a nexus opinion. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability associated with in-service asbestos exposure. The heart disease claim is being remanded to determine if it is secondary to the service-connected respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for asbestos related lung disease as the evidence does not establish a direct relationship to service, and significant pre- and post-service asbestos exposure is present.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disorder, finding no evidence of chronic prostatitis in service and noting the absence of treatment records indicating symptoms until many years after discharge. The claim was also denied on secondary basis as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to any service-connected disability.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder (asbestosis) was also denied, with the Board finding that post-service civilian asbestos exposure outweighed any potential service-related exposure and noting insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current lung disability or hearing loss that is due to his military service, including exposure to asbestos. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed hearing loss, back disorder, and pulmonary disorders. The issues of service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of asbestosis, and the claim for increased evaluation remains pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA medical records and to provide the veteran with an appropriate VA examination for his asbestosis. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined and will be deferred until further notice.