The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for hypertension and hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had duty or visitation in Vietnam but did not have any relevant medical records showing hypertension or hearing loss during service, nor was there any competent evidence linking current diagnoses to service. The December 2009 VA examination report concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is less than 50% likely due to in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 25, 2011
- Citation
- 1131273
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 1131273.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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