Asbestosis Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating for asbestosis and awarded a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability, effective from November 10, 2003. The earlier effective date of October 23, 2003, was assigned for the award of individual unemployability benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's asbestosis disability, including considering all evidence received since the April 2004 supplemental statement of the case.

The VA denied service connection for a lung disorder claimed due to asbestos exposure and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer, alcoholism, and a psychiatric disorder, all claimed as secondary to tobacco use. The Board also denied his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for asbestosis.

The Board found no evidence of current asbestosis and concluded that the appellant's lung disease is more likely attributable to smoking rather than asbestos exposure in service. As a result, the claim for service connection for asbestosis was denied.

The veteran's claim for an initial noncompensable evaluation for service-connected pleural thickening consistent with asbestos-related pleural disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the veteran has asbestosis or silicosis, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an asbestos-related lung disease, but the case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for asbestosis should be July 6, 2001. The veteran's fungal disorder of the feet is not service-connected.

The veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected asbestosis was increased to 30 percent, which is the maximum available benefit.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for asbestosis is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and additional medical records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of asbestos exposure has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his back disability is not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about the veteran's exposure to asbestos during service and arranging for a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran has asbestosis. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and asbestosis are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis, finding that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a pulmonary specialist examination to determine if the veteran's lung disorder is due to asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have asbestosis or any other asbestos-related disease and therefore, service connection for asbestosis is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or asbestos disease, and concluded that his pulmonary disability is due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) secondary to cigarette smoking. As such, service connection for asbestosis was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and SSA disability benefits records. The veteran is also asked to provide information about his right knee injury during basic training.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for asbestosis prior to September 1, 1998.