The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that he has experienced ringing in his ears since separation from service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability or a diagnosis within one year of separation from service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was conceded due to noise exposure during service, and he has provided credible testimony regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.,There is no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year of separation, and current audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.
- Claimed conditions
- back strain, bilateral ankles, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral shoulders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19141090
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19141090.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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