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Remanded (sent back)PACT Act

The veteran's right ankle disorder remains at a 20 percent evaluation. Claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy are denied as secondary to diabetes mellitus. Service connection is also denied for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, both secondary to diabetes mellitus, is denied. The veteran's right ankle disorder remains at 20 percent evaluation. Service connection for a low back disorder and skin cancer are denied as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The deciding factor: There is no persuasive medical nexus evidence of record indicating the veteran developed diabetic retinopathy during or as a result of his service in the military, including on account of his already service-connected diabetes mellitus. There is also no persuasive medical nexus evidence of record indicating the veteran developed erectile dysfunction during or as a result of his service in the military, including on account of his already service-connected diabetes mellitus. There is also no persuasive medical nexus evidence of record indicating the veteran developed a low back disorder during or as a result of his service in the military, including on account of his already service-connected residuals of a right ankle injury.,There is no persuasive medical nexus evidence of record indicating the veteran developed diabetic retinopathy during or as a result of his service in the military, including on account of his already service-connected diabetes mellitus. There is also no persuasive medical nexus evidence of record indicating the veteran developed erectile dysfunction during or as a result of his service in the military, including on account of his already service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for a low back disorder and skin cancer are denied as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

Claimed conditions
diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, low back disorder, skin cancer
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
January 11, 2005
Citation
0500686

Veterans Law Judge

LAWRENCE M. SULLIVAN

Decisions by this judge: 407 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 0500686.

What this means for you

A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.

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