Asbestosis decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a low back condition and asbestosis with pleural plaques due to the need for additional examinations and testing. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his low back condition, which he attributes to an in-service injury, and a compensable rating for his asbestosis with pleural plaques.

The Board has decided that the service connection for a pulmonary disability, including COPD and asbestosis, needs further clarification due to conflicting diagnoses. The Veteran's smoking history is established but the role of asbestos exposure in his COPD development or severity remains unclear.

Service connection for back pain, chest pain/sinus ventricular tachycardia, and asbestos exposure residuals was denied. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) was granted but only to the extent of schizophrenia.,The Veteran's claims for service connection were not reopened for back pain, chest pain/sinus ventricular tachycardia, and asbestos exposure residuals due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and asbestosis disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 21, 2011. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis and remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing audiogram results and clarification of word recognition scores, as well as obtaining relevant private healthcare records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for pleural plaques, also claimed as asbestosis, effective from July 13, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's MOS of ship's cook and gunman had a minimal risk of asbestos exposure. The opinion also considered his work in a sheet metal factory but concluded that working in this environment posed a greater risk of asbestos exposure than his military duties.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, right upper and lower extremity disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claims are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension and asbestosis have been granted service connection. The decision on sleep apnea is pending.

The Veteran's asbestosis has worsened since his last VA examination in 2017, and he is being asked to provide updated treatment records. He will also be scheduled for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's asbestosis with pulmonary nodules has not met the criteria for a compensable rating based on lung function tests, and other conditions like pulmonary emboli have been ruled out or considered in his current status.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for asbestosis with COPD is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of newly received evidence.