The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The Veteran's tinnitus has also been rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,Service connection for right hip scars was granted effective October 19, 2011, but the Veteran contends he should have received an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,Tinnitus is rated at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Veteran has no additional issues that would warrant a higher rating.,Service connection was granted for right hip scars effective October 19, 2011. However, the Veteran argues he should have received an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Right Hip Scars (post-surgical)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20051662
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 20051662.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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