The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Regarding service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or as secondary to PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.
The deciding factor: The September 2014 VA examination did not provide sufficient information to determine if the Veteran had a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, nor was there evidence linking his current condition to any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions.,There is no medical evidence showing that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Cardiovascular Disease, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Skin Disorder, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, Residuals of Cold Injury to Bilateral Hands, Residuals of Cold Injury to Left Lower Extremity (Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip), Residuals of Cold Injury to Right Lower Extremity (Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18156825
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 18156825.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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