The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hearing loss was dismissed. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disability (diabetic retinopathy and loss of vision), PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, thyroid disorder, and sleep disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's presence in Vietnam during the applicable presumptive period established exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The bilateral eye disability, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disorder, and sleep disorder were all linked to service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral eye disability (claimed as diabetic retinopathy and loss of vision), peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, thyroid disorder, sleep disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21031302
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 21031302.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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 hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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