The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skeletal arthritis all joints, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, depression, hypertension, a bilateral eye condition, a bilateral hip condition, a bilateral knee condition, and a bilateral foot condition were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran had current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, skeletal arthritis all joints, GERD, or erectile dysfunction that began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board remanded claims for further development and opinion regarding diabetes mellitus type II and depression.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Skeletal arthritis all joints, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Erectile dysfunction, Diabetes mellitus type II, Depression, Hypertension, Bilateral eye conditions, Bilateral hip condition, Bilateral knee condition, Bilateral foot condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21062366
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
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