The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms.,The Veteran does not have a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer due to lack of penile deformity.,The reduction from 100% to 60% disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer was proper as the condition is currently in remission without local reoccurrence or metastasis.,PTSD is not rated higher than 50%, with symptoms consistent with a reduced reliability and productivity, but not meeting criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for papillary urothelial carcinoma is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by in-service noise exposure as there were no complaints or diagnoses of hearing loss at the time of separation and current evidence does not support a nexus to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, papillary urothelial carcinoma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148047
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- 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).
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.