The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's assertions regarding his exposure need to be corroborated, and a new VA examination is required to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and the nature of his hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001227
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 grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of active duty service. The claims for ischemic heart disease, aortic valve replacement, status post aortic stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease with popliteal aneurysm are 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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