The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure are denied. The claim for malaria is also denied.,The Veteran's PTSD disability rating remains at 50 percent, but he is not entitled to a higher evaluation. His malaria condition does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.,Regarding TDIU, the Board finds that there is no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was found not to be presumptively related to Agent Orange exposure. The medical records do not indicate active malaria or any residuals.,There is no current evidence of active malaria, and the VA examination did not find any residual symptoms from the service-connected malaria. The Veteran's other conditions are not related to his malaria.,The Veteran does not have unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension (presumptive due to Agent Orange exposure), malaria
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2013
- Citation
- 1313916
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1313916.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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