The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of asbestosis or other asbestos-related pulmonary disorder, and the Board finds that service connection for these conditions is denied.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of asbestosis or other asbestos-related pulmonary disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate any asbestos exposure during his active duty service, and there are no objective findings to support a diagnosis of asbestosis at the time of the VA examination in December 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- asbestosis or other asbestos-related pulmonary disorder, pulmonary disorder, to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2016
- Citation
- 1643265
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1643265.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service as a gunner's mate in the U.S. Navy exposed him to powerful naval gun recoil and shipboard asbestos exposure, which may have contributed to his current systemic joint disorder, spine disorder, and pulmonary disorder (to include COPD). The Board has ordered further examination and development of evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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