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Service Related Asbestos Exposure/granted

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garygaz

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The VA service related condition of COPD/Asbestosis due to asbestsos exposure while in the navy with a 0% rating, until after my Pulmonary Breathing Test on 8-27-2014 at the VA medical center in Ann Arbor, MI. They closed my claim and stated that they would evaluate the results of the Pulmonary test to evaluate the extent of my condition. They admit it is service related showing CT findings of focal areas of bilateral pleural thickening and plaques, several of which are associated with coarse calcifications, therefore service connection is warrented. Sounds like greek to me just wondered if anyone had any thoughts or experience with this condition, or what I might expect after the exam? Thank's

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I have been service connected to asbestos exposure. I have calcified pleural plaques in both lungs and in my diaphragm on right side.  No the VA tells me my breathing problems are due to previous smoking history and COPD . In my first of many NODs I cited case studies from the American lung assoc. American thoracic society national institute for occupational health and safety that show asbestos in the lungs can cause copd. I also cited 20 case that the VA already  ruled on and admitted asbestos in the lungs can cause copd and in those cases cited the same studies I did. Jumped through all the hoops for the VA and my PFT shows lungs are only functioning at 67% my fvc was a 49...and yet still denied benefits

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What it means is that VA has service connected you at zero percent.  They did that to me, also, with hearing loss...they said it was service connected at 0%.    Its good news.  If your condition worsens you can apply for an increase, and you have only to show that your condition got worse..you dont have to service connect it again.  

Also it means you can apply for "secondary" service connection.  For example, lets say a doc says your COPD caused you to have diabetes. (of course I dont know if he will say that or not).  However, you only have 2 things to prove with secondary:

1.  You have to have a current diagnosis.

2.  You have to have a nexus staement linking your current disease with your service connected COPD.  

    Breathing problems cause a lot more problems.  Things dont go well when you can not breathe.  

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