The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied.,All other issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.
The deciding factor: There is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral tinnitus, as it has already been assigned the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 6260.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Tinnitus, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Hypertension, Residuals of Cold Injuries of the Upper and Lower Extremities, Bilateral Foot Disability Other Than Cold Injury Residuals, Acquired Psychiatric Disability (PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Dependence, Polysubstance Abuse), Hepatitis C, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Service-Connected Left Forearm Scar, Residuals of Skin Infection of the Left Foot
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18160580
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 18160580.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
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