Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection for a stomach condition is remanded.,Service connection for headaches, including as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss and noise exposure in service was acknowledged by the VA. Service connection is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).,VA treatment records show that the Veteran has a diagnosis for PTSD, and his military personnel records indicate behavior changes related to stressors during service. The Board finds that based on the evidence of record, the Veteran’s stressor is corroborated by the evidence of record.,The Veteran's VA treatment records show a diagnosis for migraine headaches in December 2016. No VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran’s headaches are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,VA treatment records from May 2014 show that the Veteran was most recently provided with a VA hearing loss examination, and he argued that his right ear hearing loss has increased in severity. The Board finds that the Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stomach condition, headaches
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19164995
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,762 · Granted: 24% (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 19164995.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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