The Board has found that the Veteran's in-service exposure to significant acoustic trauma as a result of his active combat service in Vietnam is conceded. The Veteran contends that he incurred bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus during active service, but the VA examiner opined that there was no evidence of current disability due to bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to active service. The Board finds the July 2008 VA examination inadequate for purposes of adjudication.
The deciding factor: The July 2008 VA examination is deficient in providing a detailed opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss on his daily functioning and does not provide sufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2013
- Citation
- 1317284
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 1317284.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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