The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, as his service was within the territorial waters of Vietnam.
The deciding factor: Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and had service within the 12-mile nautical mile radius from the landmass of Vietnam, qualifying him for presumptive exposure to herbicide agents under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, dupuytren's contracture (right hand), dupuytren's contracture (left hand), dupuytren's contracture (right foot), dupuytren's contracture (left foot), cubital tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, cubital tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, polyuria, psychiatric disorder (PTSD), heart disability (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20064964
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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.