The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, blood disorder (claimed as blood clots), sleep disability, skin disability, head injury residuals, headaches, cardiovascular disability (claimed as atrial fibrillation with chest pain), right hip disability, and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted effective September 24, 2013. The Board is now considering whether a higher rating or earlier effective date can be assigned.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has not provided any new evidence to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability. The RO's decision denying these claims remains final as no new and material evidence was received within one year of the April 1994 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, blood disorder (claimed as blood clots), sleep disability, skin disability, head injury residuals, headaches, cardiovascular disability (claimed as atrial fibrillation with chest pain), right hip disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144814
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 18144814.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- 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.
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