The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss disability and his service. The examiner is asked to consider whether there could be a delayed onset of hearing loss related to noise exposure in service.
The deciding factor: The absence of a current hearing loss disability at separation does not preclude service connection if there is credible evidence of acoustic trauma due to significant noise exposure in service, post-service audiometric findings meet the regulatory requirements for hearing loss disability, and a medically sound basis exists to attribute the post-service findings to the injury in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20033599
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20033599.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted effective dates of August 10, 2022 for hypertension and July 25, 2023 for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's conditions were found to have manifested no later than the dates specified in their respective effective dates.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD was granted effective August 29, 2022. Service connection was established for vitreous syneresis / vitreous floaters of both eyes. The claims for service connection for refractive error of both eyes (myopia and astigmatism), bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were all denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are moot.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, and increased ratings for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date due to lack of intent or claim filing prior to July 14, 2022. For the other claims, the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and for increased ratings for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder.
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