The Board denied service connection for a back disability and open-angle glaucoma, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The skin disorder claim is remanded due to lack of medical opinion.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, with the VA examiner concluding that current hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current back disability and open-angle glaucoma to his service. The skin disorder claim lacks a medical opinion.,For the bilateral hearing loss, the VA examiners concluded that there was no link between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability (claimed as herniated disc), open-angle glaucoma, skin disorder (claimed as seborrheic keratosis and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18154466
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 18154466.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 90 percent for the service-connected open-angle glaucoma, but granted special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for open-angle glaucoma is remanded due to a duty to assist error.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 26, 2021, for the award of a 100 percent rating for respiratory disability is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for open-angle glaucoma, secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension were granted under the PACT Act.,Service connection was established for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Takhli Royal Thailand Air Force Base (RTAFB).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for diabetic nonproliferative retinopathy and TDIU due to ongoing eye examinations and treatment records being needed. The issues are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
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