The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins and bilateral hearing loss, but denied them on the merits. The additional evidence received since the April 1974 rating decision is considered new and material to reopen the claim for varicose veins, while it does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service medical records do not show any complaints or findings of varicose veins. Bilateral hearing loss was first demonstrated years after service, and there is no competent evidence to link it to service exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- varicose veins, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2003
- Citation
- 0335903
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 0335903.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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