The Board has dismissed the issues regarding loss of toenail and fingernail, as well as the issue to reopen service connection for stress fractures. The remaining claims have been denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or any other location where he would have been exposed to herbicides. His skin condition is presumed to be due to his military service, but it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides. The diabetes and CAD are not related to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- stress fractures of the left leg with shin splints and chronic left leg edema, bilateral hearing loss, loss of the toenail of the fourth toe on the right foot, loss of the fingernail of the second finger on the left hand, skin condition, to include chloracne, seborrheic and eczematous dermatitis, and porphyria cutanea tarda, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy bilateral lower extremities, vision condition, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2016
- Citation
- 1638874
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1638874.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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