The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction has been granted. Service connection is also granted for left eye diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of colon cancer has been denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to his sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence was submitted supporting the reopening of claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, which were previously denied. Service connection is granted based on a finding that these conditions are secondary to service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for residuals of colon cancer has not been met with new and material evidence. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the possibility of a link to sleep apnea, which is currently under review.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Erectile Dysfunction, Left Eye Diabetic Retinopathy, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Right Upper Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Diabetic Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23025421
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 23025421.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.