The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his period of active duty service. The examiner was instructed to consider the Veteran's reported history and accept as true that he experienced in-service acoustic trauma, but did not address the possibility of delayed-onset hearing loss or discuss the likelihood that noise exposure caused permanent damage to auditory hair cells resulting in greater hearing loss than would otherwise be manifest.
The deciding factor: The Board found the previous VA examiner's rationale inadequate for addressing the Veteran's reported history and the possibility of delayed-onset hearing loss, as well as the likelihood of permanent damage from noise exposure leading to greater hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007522
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 21007522.
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.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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