The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA medical opinion did not provide an adequate rationale regarding whether the Veteran’s hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA medical opinion was inadequate and failed to address the Veteran's induction audiogram, which may have indicated a degree of reduced hearing acuity at the time of induction.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2019
- Citation
- A19002385
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
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