The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2015 and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is granted. The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss, service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (left upper extremity), service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (right upper extremity), and service connection for unspecified disability to account for joint pain of all joints are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant. The claims for hearing loss, PTSD, and vertigo were granted based on current diagnoses and credible testimony. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and unspecified disability to account for joint pain of all joints require further examination and etiological opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, vertigo (claimed as dizziness), carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity, unspecified disability to account for joint pain of all joints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19125829
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 withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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