The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The AOJ needs to verify the dates of service aboard the U.S.S. Sioux and determine if the vessel entered the territorial sea within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that more information is needed regarding the Veteran's service in the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could impact the determination on the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19131929
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 Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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