The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for pleural plaques, also claimed as asbestosis, effective from July 13, 2012.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's FEV-1 values were between 71 and 81 percent throughout the appeal period, with pre-bronchodilator findings of 74 percent predicted at worst, and post-bronchodilator FEV values of between 84 and 94 percent. The Board found that a reasonable doubt arose regarding the severity of the Veteran's disability and resolved it in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- pleural plaques, asbestosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21003412
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 21003412.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis disability is rated at 100% from December 2, 2024 to January 16, 2026. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis with pleural plaques and vascular dementia as secondary to asbestosis with pleural plaques due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis was granted an increased rating of 10 percent, but no higher. Service connection for sleep apnea was denied.
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