This appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.,The claims for emphysema with COPD and residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and PTSD are all remanded as the Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus prior to the Board's decision. The service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, emphysema with COPD and residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18109666
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 18109666.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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