The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have been granted by a June 2020 rating decision. The issues of service connection for a stomach condition, to include GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with anxiety, secondary to service-connected status-post inguinal hernia repairs are remanded.
The deciding factor: The claims have been granted as the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were already service connected. The issues of stomach condition and psychiatric disorder need further evaluation due to incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach condition (GERD), acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20055859
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 20055859.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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