The Veteran's claim for residuals of eye burns is reopened and granted.,Bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a heart disability and DM II are denied, presumed based on herbicide exposure during service.,Glaucoma secondary to DM II is denied.
The deciding factor: New evidence was received that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of residuals of eye burns. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure is credible and his current hearing loss is at least in equipoise with service connection.,The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss sufficient to establish impaired hearing for VA purposes, and there is credible evidence of in-service noise exposure. His hearing was within normal limits at induction but he reported chronicity of symptomatology since 1963.,There is no evidence of a heart disability or DM II during service. The Veteran's current disabilities are presumed due to herbicide exposure based on his presence in Vietnam, and there is no affirmative evidence to the contrary.,Glaucoma is not shown to be related to a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of eye burns, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II), glaucoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18121981
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 18121981.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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