The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is dismissed, while diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss are granted with specific ratings.
The deciding factor: Service connection for diabetes was granted based on presumed in-service herbicide exposure due to the Veteran's service in Guam from 1962 to 1980. The appeal of IHD is dismissed as it has been granted in full, and other claims were denied or not met.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD), Diabetes mellitus, type II, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Left second (index) finger disability, Left third (long) finger disability, Left fourth (ring) finger disability, Left hand scar
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25058039
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
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