The veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss and various other conditions. The RO has remanded the case to obtain additional records and conduct examinations.,The veteran claims service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, ankles, shoulders, and back, which he attributes to in-service exposure to humidity in Vietnam. He also seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability (likely depression) and benign prostatic hypertrophy due to herbicide exposure during service.,The veteran asserts that his current psychiatric condition is related to an in-service diagnosis of depression. The RO has requested clarification on whether the veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which would require further development.,The veteran claims service connection for myocardial infarctions and coronary artery disease, with a suggestion that these conditions may be secondary to his psychiatric disability. He also seeks service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy due to herbicide exposure during service.,The veteran asserts that he was exposed to noise while serving as a policeman in the Air Force, which could potentially relate to his current hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The case is being remanded because additional records are needed and examinations are required to determine the validity of the veteran's claims for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, ankles, shoulders and back, psychiatric disability (to include depression), myocardial infarctions, status post coronary artery bypass graft, benign prostatic hypertrophy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2007
- Citation
- 0721491
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 0721491.
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.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. However, it was determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, thus denying both claims.
- Denied
The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's high cholesterol, dementia, stroke, prostate cancer, cataracts, diabetes, hypertension, CHF, and myocardial infarction claims are denied due to lack of service connection evidence or insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the disabilities and active duty service.,The Veteran was exposed to toxins during his military service but there is no evidence linking these exposures to any of the claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Given the grant of TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, the Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as total (PTSD) and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.
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