Medical and Exposure Requirements

Level I: Other Asbestos Disease

Medical Criteria

• 1. Diagnosis of a BARNMD¹ or an asbestos-related malignancy other than mesothelioma based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis, or
     • If the claimant is deceased at the time the claim was filed, pathological evidence of the non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
  2. Evidence of a BARNMD¹ with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification based upon one of the following:
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader of 1/0 or higher²; or
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader or read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A CT scan read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A pathology report.
  3. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982.

Level II: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

Medical Criteria

• 1. Diagnosis of a BARNMD¹ based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis, or
     • If the claimant is deceased at the time the claim was filed, pathological evidence of the non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
  2. Evidence of a BARNMD¹ with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification based upon one of the following:
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader of 1/0 or higher²; or
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader or read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A CT scan read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A pathology report.
  3. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Six months DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982; AND
  2. Five years cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos.

Level III: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

Medical Criteria

• 1. Diagnosis of a BARNMD¹ non-malignant disease based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis, or
     • If the claimant is deceased at the time the claim was filed, pathological evidence of the non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
  2. Evidence of a BARNMD¹ with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification based upon one of the following:
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader of 1/0 or higher²; or
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader or read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A CT scan read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A pathology report.
  3. Pulmonary Function Testing in compliance with the quality criteria established by the ATS with either:
     • A TLC less than 80%; or
     • FVC less than 80% and FEV1/FVC ratio greater than or equal to 65%.
  4. Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing the pulmonary disease.
  5. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Six months of DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982; AND
  2. Significant Occupational Exposure to asbestos.

Level IV: Severe Asbestosis

Medical Criteria

• 1. Diagnosis of asbestosis based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis; or
     • If the claimant is deceased at the time the claim was filed, pathological evidence of the non-malignant asbestos-related disease.
  2. An ILO of 2/1 or greater; OR
     • Pathological evidence of asbestosis.
  3. Pulmonary Function Testing in compliance with the quality criteria established by the ATS with either:
     • TLC less than 65%; or
     • FVC less than 65% and FEV1/FVC ratio greater than 65%.
  4. Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing the pulmonary disease.
  5. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Six months of DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982; AND
  2. Significant Occupational Exposure to asbestos.

Level V: Other Cancer

Medical Criteria

• 1. A diagnosis of a primary colo-rectal, laryngeal, esophageal, pharyngeal, or stomach cancer based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis; or
     • A diagnosis of such a malignant disease by a board-certified pathologist.
  2. Evidence of an underlying BARNMD¹ with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification based upon one of the following:
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader of 1/0 or higher²; or
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader or read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A CT scan read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A pathology report.
  3. Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing the other cancer.
  4. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Six months DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982; AND
  2. Significant Occupational Exposure to asbestos.

Level VI: Lung Cancer 2

Medical Criteria

• 1. A diagnosis of a primary lung cancer based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis, or
     • A diagnosis of such a malignant disease by a board-certified pathologist.
  2. Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing the lung cancer.
  3. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982.

Level VII: Lung Cancer 1

Medical Criteria

• 1. A diagnosis of a primary lung cancer based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis, or
     • A diagnosis of such a malignant disease by a board-certified pathologist.
  2. Evidence of an BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification based upon one of the following:
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader of 1/0 or higher², or
     • A chest x-ray read by a certified B-reader or other Qualified Physician; or
     • A CT scan read by a Qualified Physician; or
     • A pathology report.
  3. A causal statement from a medical doctor linking the lung cancer to asbestos exposure.
  4. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Six months DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982; AND
  2. Significant Occupational Exposure to asbestos.

Level VIII: Mesothelioma

Medical Criteria

• 1. A diagnosis of a mesothelioma based upon either:
     • A physical exam of the claimant by the physician providing the diagnosis; or
     • A diagnosis of such a malignant disease by a board-certified pathologist.
  2. 10 year latency.

Exposure Criteria

• 1. Credible evidence of DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982.

Note: A finding by a physician that a claimant’s disease is “consistent with” or “compatible with” asbestosis will not alone be accepted by the Trust as a diagnosis.  However, if a claim was filed before the petition date (HAL = 12/16/03; HW = 2/14/02), then a diagnosis of “consistent with” or “compatible with” asbestosis will not be considered a deficiency.

¹BARNMD – Bilateral Asbestos-Related Non-Malignant Disease.

²For claims filed before the petition date (HAL = 12/16/03; HW = 2/14/02), if an ILO reading is not available, then the claimant may submit a chest x-ray report .