The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence. The Board is unable to determine if there was a factual increase in disability prior to the effective dates requested, or if service connection should be granted based on the current evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board cannot establish earlier effective dates as the evidence does not show an increase in disability within one year prior to the claimed effective dates. Service connection is also being remanded due to insufficient evidence for some claims.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, interstitial lung disease, anemia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with chronic gastritis, restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity, restless leg syndrome, right lower extremity, stroke, bilateral leg, diverticulosis with ulcerative colitis and sigmoid stricture, status post total abdominal colectomy with end ileostomy and abdominal perineal resection, hypertension, liver condition, kidney condition, erectile dysfunction, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, type II, insomnia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26038228
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26038228.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- 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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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