The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is characterized as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for an adjustment disorder is granted.,The appeals pertaining to service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension are remanded due to the Veteran's current symptoms being related to his military service.,The appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded as it is linked to multiple conditions, including kidney cancer.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal pertaining to diabetes mellitus at his August 2019 Board hearing.,New and material evidence has been received since the May 2008 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD. The new evidence includes reports of stressors related to the Veteran's fear of hostile attacks sinking his ship, which is consistent with his military service.,The July 2013 VA examination confirmed the Veteran’s current diagnosis of tinnitus and found it less likely than not related to his active service due to a delayed onset. However, the Veteran testified that he first noticed ringing in his ears during service, which has continued intermittently since then.,The July 2013 VA examination diagnosed the Veteran with adjustment disorder with depressed mood, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. The examiner noted persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness for a diagnosis of PTSD. However, the Veteran did not meet Criterion C for PTSD.,The heart disorder and hypertension appeals are remanded due to the Veteran's current stressors being related to his military service.,The erectile dysfunction appeal is remanded as it is linked to multiple conditions including kidney cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, adjustment disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20010341
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 20010341.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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