The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination by an otolaryngologist to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability. The tinnitus claim is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim. A SOC must also be issued for the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal contains multiple issues, including service connection claims and a request for an increased evaluation. The hearing loss claim requires additional development, specifically with regard to determining whether his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to military service or preexisted it. The tinnitus claim is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim as they are both related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. Finally, a SOC must be issued for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss disability, otosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2014
- Citation
- 1419808
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 1419808.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate examination and reasoning.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to errors in providing notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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