The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The cases for pes planus, peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss was caused by noise exposure during service. For the other conditions, the cases were remanded because new medical opinions were needed regarding their relationship to service and/or presumed herbicide agent exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing loss, Pes planus, Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, Right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Psychiatric disability (including PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2022
- Citation
- 22001972
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 22001972.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for pes planus of the left foot as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to military noise exposure and there is no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and his current condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.
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