The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right fifth finger is denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if current hearing loss meets the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss requires additional evidence due to worsening symptoms since the last audiometric evaluation in May 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right fifth finger, Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19132845
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19132845.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including persistent depressive disorder, migraines, tinnitus, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational history.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for PTSD is granted, effective May 22, 2023.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for right total hip replacement and related conditions are granted.,An earlier effective date of May 22, 2023, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for recurrent tinnitus is granted.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected, with no specific date provided.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and neurogenic bladder condition, require regular aid and attendance. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted. As the issue of housebound status is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance, special monthly compensation based on housebound status is dismissed.
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