The Veteran's cataracts were denied as the evidence did not show that they began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The chloracne was granted as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service and is presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Asbestosis and COPD were both denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cataracts did not begin during service and there is no medical evidence linking them to a service-connected condition.,Chloracne was presumed due to herbicide exposure as it manifested within one year of the Veteran's separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- cataracts, chloracne, asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, heart disorder, including coronary artery disease, sinus bradycardia and palpitations, bilateral ankle arthritis, bilateral arm arthritis, bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral foot arthritis, cervical strain with degenerative joint disease, right knee strain, left knee strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right hip strain, left hip strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus, pre-diabetes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21041654
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 21041654.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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