The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to issues with obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for tinnitus is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the opinions provided were inadequate, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and type II diabetes mellitus, and the relationship between hypertension and presumed herbicide exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21039913
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 21039913.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
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