The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 6, 2014, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The Board also finds that his claims for sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) require further development as they may be related to pre-existing conditions or personal assault during boot camp.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on October 6, 2014, which is the earliest possible effective date under VA regulations. The Board also notes that his claims for sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) may be related to pre-existing conditions or personal assault during boot camp.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"Sleep Apnea"}, {"condition_name":"Gastrointestinal Disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Erectile Dysfunction"}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD and Dysthymic Disorder)"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131091
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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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.