The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition, as well as additional examinations for circulatory problems, back disability, neck disability, shoulder disabilities, foot disabilities, leg disabilities (neuropathy), and arm disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to lack of evidence in the record supporting these conditions. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition, as well as additional examinations for his claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"Skin Condition (presumptive)"}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20006405
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 service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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