Asbestosis decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current respiratory disorder to service, including exposure to asbestos during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have asbestosis related to asbestos exposure in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis with COPD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase during the appeal period.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected asbestosis, with secondary pulmonary fibrosis and secondary moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease effective February 2, 2003.

The Board found no evidence of current asbestosis and concluded that the veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for PTSD, asbestos exposure-related disability, and hearing loss due to lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions. The claim for reopening the hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asbestosis warrants a rating of 30 percent from April 25, 1991 to March 2, 1993.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, decreased visual acuity, and a right knee disorder. The claim for increased rating of asbestosis was also denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's asbestos pleural disease, evaluated as noncompensable since August 24, 1998, warrants a 10 percent evaluation starting from August 23, 2001.

The veteran's request for service connection for asbestosis and an increased rating for urethritis is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The VA determined that the veteran's asbestosis is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, which was increased from a previous rating of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected pneumoconiosis due to asbestosis was found not to warrant a higher initial rating prior to February 1, 1997 and no compensable evaluation from that date. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran has asbestosis and this disorder is related to asbestos exposure during service, granting service connection for asbestosis.

The Board found that the veteran's asbestosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board denied all service connection claims and increased ratings claims, finding no current diagnoses for the claimed conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any of the conditions and active service.