Asbestosis Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for asbestos-related lung disorder and granted it. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, peripheral vascular disease, and increased rating for psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's reduced pulmonary function and restrictive lung defects are due to his service-connected asbestos-related disease of mild plural thickening, but rather are related to a nonservice-connected diaphragm weakness.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's COPD has been rated at 10 percent, the minimum compensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this rating.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including as related to in-service asbestos exposure and/or service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, has not been shown to be causally related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other respiratory disorder, and his sleep apnea is not related to service, including asbestos exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for asbestosis, claimed as sleep apnea, is denied.

The Veteran's asbestosis with pleural plaques has been granted a 100% evaluation, rendering the issue of TDIU moot.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a respiratory disability, to include asbestosis. However, it is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of in-service injury, disease or event to which either disorder could plausibly be related.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pleural disease, including asbestosis, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis and COPD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as they did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.,The Veteran has a current lung disability (Interstitial Lung Disease - Asbestosis) that is related to post-service asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, bilateral upper extremity orthopedic disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lung disorders (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and emphysema), and posttraumatic stress disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected asbestosis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. The lung disorders are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during service.,Regarding the renal disorder claim (38 U.S.C. § 1151), no decision was made as this issue was addressed in a separate REMAND.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating and a higher rating for asbestosis, and also denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to December 2, 2010 for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected asbestosis has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for asbestosis with bilateral calcified pleural plaques is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for asbestosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.