The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for left shoulder DJD, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and bursitis, right rotator cuff injury with bursitis following surgical convalescence, and right knee post-operative chondromalacia are remanded as additional examination is needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records were silent for complaints or diagnoses related to hearing loss, shoulder DJD, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and bursitis, or knee conditions. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for bilateral hearing loss based on VA criteria. For the other issues, additional examination is needed as the Veteran has alleged worsening symptoms since her last examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder DJD, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and bursitis, right knee post-operative chondromalacia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2018
- Citation
- 18149045
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 18149045.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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