Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II (due to herbicide exposure), and hypertension is denied. The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of liver are remanded for further development.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension is denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of liver (secondary to hepatitis C) is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support service connection for the claimed conditions, particularly due to lack of direct causation or exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of liver
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023510
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 21023510.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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