The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disorder related to his claimed asbestos exposure or any chronic illness due to fluctuating weight, joint/muscle complaints, hepatitis, Rickettsia, Leishmania or chronic viral infections. The veteran's sleep disorder and subluxation of the left shoulder were also found not to warrant an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that the veteran had any current respiratory condition secondary to asbestos exposure or any chronic illness due to his claimed exposures, leading to denial of service connection. The VA examinations did not find any impairment related to the veteran's sleep disorder and subluxation of the left shoulder.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory condition secondary to asbestos exposure, fluctuating weight loss, joint/muscle complaints, hepatitis, Rickettsia, Leishmania or chronic viral infections
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 16, 2002
- Citation
- 0212158
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0212158.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and diabetic nephropathy as the evidence did not show a current disability related to active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to hepatitis, finding no evidence that it was related to his military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claim for service connection for a dental condition and remanded claims for service connection for hepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a left shoulder condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for hepatitis to ensure a VA examination and medical opinion are obtained, addressing potential pre-service exposure and in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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