The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed exposure to herbicides. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 7, 2015 is denied, as is a rating in excess of 10 percent from October 7, 2015 to May 16, 2016 and a rating in excess of 30 percent on or after May 17, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 7, 2015 is denied as there is no audiological evidence supporting a higher evaluation. A rating in excess of 10 percent from October 7, 2015 to May 16, 2016 and a rating in excess of 30 percent on or after May 17, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss is also denied as there is no audiological evidence supporting higher evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Diabetes Mellitus
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18155356
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18155356.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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