The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on the criteria provided. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings, but the current schedular ratings are considered adequate.,The Veteran claims service connection for migraine headaches and a cervical spine disorder. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The current schedular ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant an increase as the criteria reasonably describe the Veteran's disability level.,Further medical evaluation is required to determine whether the Veteran’s migraine headaches and cervical spine disorder are related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18152605
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 18152605.
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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