The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as left ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for payment of nonservice-connected pension benefits while incarcerated was also denied due to the Veteran's incarceration status. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion regarding right ear hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The March 2018 VA examiner did not address the fact that an audiological examination was not conducted at the time of the Veteran’s separation from service and the fact that a June 1986 audio examination showed unilateral right ear hearing loss, which is relevant to determining whether the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to combat noise exposure during his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19155565
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 19155565.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's liver disability has not resulted in any compensable symptoms, as he had a previous history of liver disease but is currently asymptomatic.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable level due to the absence of more than Level I hearing acuity.
- Granted
The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 6, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.
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