The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for asbestos related pleural disease, finding that his lung function tests did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's pulmonary function test results were within normal limits and did not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- asbestos related pleural disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2004
- Citation
- 0411964
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0411964.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's asbestos-related pleural disease: an initial rating higher than 10 percent and entitlement to a TDIU. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about his employment history and annual salary, and he must undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion, and requests that updated treatment records be obtained. The Veteran's respiratory disability is also being reviewed for service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected asbestos related pleural disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions and the need for a new opinion from an appropriate clinician with experience in asbestos-related claims.
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