The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increase in tinnitus have been denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus, as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are remanded due to failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that there exists good cause regarding the Veteran's failure to attend the August 2014 examinations.,The Veteran's service connection claims for back strain, cervicalgia, right knee pain, hypertension, and hypothyroidism are remanded as new medical evidence is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back strain, cervicalgia, right knee pain, hypertension, hypothyroidism
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18148213
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 18148213.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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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