The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy lower extremities disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss is currently manifested by Level II auditory acuity in both ears, which does not warrant a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The examiner’s opinion regarding service connection for low back and acquired psychiatric disorders did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service activities and post-service treatment. The examiner also failed to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed conditions.,The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy lower extremities disability are remanded due to their potential connection to low back disability, which is being addressed.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Low Back Disability, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Depression), Erectile Dysfunction Disability, Peripheral Neuropathy Lower Extremities
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20057132
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 20057132.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.