The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and hypertension, but granted service connection for kidney cancer. The Veteran's IBS and Crohn’s disease were partially granted with a staged rating prior to September 10, 2019, and the issue was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of hearing loss during service and concluded that any current hearing loss is more likely due to natural aging rather than military noise exposure. For hypertension, there was no onset during qualifying service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's dysentery diagnosis was not established, and the kidney cancer was linked to asbestos exposure. IBS and Crohn’s disease were found to have mild disability prior to September 10, 2019, but not meeting criteria for increased rating since then.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, hypertension, dysentery, kidney cancer, IBS and Crohn’s disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20051565
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20051565.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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