The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss as it is presumed incurred due to military service. The psychiatric disorders are secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the last denial shows that current bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety disorders, were caused by service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disability, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Psychiatric Disorder (Depression and Anxiety Disorders)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 24, 2003
- Citation
- 0313722
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 0313722.
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.
- 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.
- 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 Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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