The rating reduction from 50% to 30% for bilateral hearing loss was improper, and the 50% rating is restored. The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains at a 10% rating, frostbite residuals of left hand remain at 30%, and frostbite residuals of right hand also remain at 30%. The effective date for the tinnitus award cannot be earlier than September 2, 2005.
The deciding factor: The reduction in hearing loss rating was improper as there was no actual improvement in function under ordinary conditions of life and work. The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains at a 10% rating due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned. Frostbite residuals remain at 30% ratings as they are the highest available based on symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Frostbite Residuals of Left Hand, Frostbite Residuals of Right Hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19126874
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 880 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19126874.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- 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.
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