The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted new and material evidence related to his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus within one year of the denial decision.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19144149
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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