The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaques, claimed as asbestosis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his in-service exposure to asbestos and his current condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found it improbable that the Veteran’s minimal exposure to asbestos while serving two years in the Navy was the source of his pleural plaques compared to his job in the sheet metal field for fourteen years, which is known to have considerable exposure to asbestos.
- Claimed conditions
- pleural plaques, asbestosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20000341
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 remands the claim for a lung condition, to include COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral pleural plaques due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his current lung condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to address service connection and rating issues.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to asbestos in service caused his condition.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An increased rating to 60 percent was granted effective April 10, 2025.
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