The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: New evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric and low back disabilities require further examination and opinion regarding their onset during service or etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss","diagnosis_notes":"March 2012 rating decision denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to normal hearing at separation and lack of in-service noise exposure."}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Anxiety, Depression)","diagnosis_notes":"Veteran sought treatment for depression in November 2015. Service records show complaints of nervousness, depression, anxiety, and trouble sleeping during service."}, {"condition_name":"Low Back Disability","diagnosis_notes":"Service records show lumbosacral pain and hip/knee/back pain on discharge examination. Veteran reported cramps in legs during service."}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19190121
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 19190121.
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
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