The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss claim, as there are inconsistencies in the audiometric results and a need to consider the Veteran's lay statements of noise exposure during ACDUTRA.
The deciding factor: The examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s hearing loss at least as likely as not had its onset during or within one year of his ACDUTRA service, considering his MOS and conceded noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003656
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 Board denied an increased disability evaluation for PTSD but granted an earlier effective date for TDIU of August 6, 2012.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for increased rating for diabetes and hearing loss, granted service connection for chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes, and remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremity.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied prior to December 4, 2013, but a 20 percent rating was granted from December 4, 2013, to September 26, 2015.
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.