The Board finds the evidence insufficient to establish service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current disability in each case. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate a current disability in either ear for hearing loss, nor does it establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred and/or a link between the current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressor.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Left ear hearing loss, Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20005446
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 granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a right ankle disorder. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 5, 2018, for the award of service connection for PTSD and denied earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction, left ear hearing loss, migraines, and other conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical spine; cervical spine radiculopathy, right upper extremity; coronary artery disease; and right ear hearing loss.
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