The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for congestive heart failure with implanted AICD, colon condition, thyroid goiter post-excision, and tracheal lesion post-excision are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding exposure to herbicides.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's spouse also testified about his symptoms since service. However, the VA examiner opined against a nexus between the current hearing loss disability and service due to lack of significant threshold shift during military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Congestive Heart Failure with Implantable AICD (Ischemic Heart Disease), Colon Condition (Blood in Stool), Thyroid Goiter Post-Excision (Thyroid Removal Due to Polyps), Tracheal Lesion Post-Excision (Polyps on Larynx)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2021
- Citation
- 21071171
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 21071171.
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.
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