The Veteran's skin condition and bilateral hearing loss are service connected. The right shoulder disability, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and GERD remain unresolved due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no direct link between the current disabilities and service, with some attributing them to other causes such as age-related arthritis or occupational noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19104937
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.