The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and residuals of frostbitten feet. However, these claims are being remanded as new evidence does not establish a direct link between any current disabilities and military service.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder) due to lack of evidence establishing a direct relationship with military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the submitted clinical evidence relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims, but new and material evidence has not been provided to establish a direct link between any current disabilities and military service. The Veteran's contentions regarding frostbite are also lacking in supporting documentation.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Major Depressive Disorder), Arthritis, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Residuals of Frostbitten Feet, Right Ear Hearing Loss, Sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159998
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19159998.
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 the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Granted
The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis as of February 19, 2021, based on the number and duration of incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal.
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