The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD due to potential herbicide exposure at Kadena Air Force Base. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, depression and anxiety, alcohol use disorder, asthma, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are all related to his service-connected PTSD.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the claims for asthma, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension need further development due to potential herbicide exposure at Kadena Air Force Base during the Veteran's time in Korea. The relationship between these conditions and PTSD is unclear without additional evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include one manifested by depression and anxiety, Alcohol use disorder, Asthma, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 20, 2026
- Citation
- 26000704
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 26000704.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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