The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating available, and his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent has been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to incomplete STRs and a need for a new medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus is already rated at its highest possible level under the applicable diagnostic code, so no higher rating can be granted. For his bilateral hearing loss claim, additional records are needed, including the Veteran's June 1985 separation examination, and a new medical opinion is required to determine if service connection should be established.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 3, 2018
- Citation
- 18123716
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 18123716.
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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