The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, bladder cancer (due to herbicide exposure), and chloracne (due to herbicide exposure). The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not linked to in-service noise exposure. Hypertension did not manifest during service or within a presumptive period. Bladder cancer is presumed due to herbicide exposure but the Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. Chloracne was not diagnosed and there was no evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's bladder cancer, which has been successfully treated, was not linked to service connection as a presumptive condition or due to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have hearing loss in service and there was no evidence of noise-induced hearing loss. The current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss is more than 38 years after separation, which exceeds the one-year presumptive period.,There is no evidence of hypertension during service or within a presumptive period. The Veteran's current diagnosis does not meet VA criteria for hypertension.,The Board found that bladder cancer was not linked to herbicide exposure as it did not manifest within a year after separation and there was no continuity of symptomatology. The private physician stated that the Veteran did not have chloracne or acneform disease consistent with chloracne.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, hypertension, bladder cancer, chloracne
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18117526
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 18117526.
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).
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- Whole decision: Denied
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