The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 80% evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that no evidence prior to December 8, 2017, shows an increase in severity warranting such rating. The issues of service connection for actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma (claimed as skin condition) and polymyalgia rheumatica are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.
The deciding factor: No evidence prior to December 8, 2017, shows an increase in severity warranting the higher rating of 80% for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Actinic Keratosis and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (claimed as skin condition)"}, {"condition_name":"Polymyalgia Rheumatica"}
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19161467
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 19161467.
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.
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- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis based on the PACT Act.
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The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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