The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disability is granted as service connection due to the onset in service and persistence since.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, numbness in left hand, right shoulder condition, back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus disability is service-connected due to the consistent exposure to loud noises during active duty service and continuity of symptomatology since discharge.,Service connection for hearing loss, eye problems, numbness in left hand, right shoulder condition, back condition, knee conditions, ankle conditions, and foot problems are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Bilateral Eye Problems, Numbness in Left Hand, Right Shoulder Condition, Back Condition, Left Knee Condition, Right Knee Condition, Left Ankle Condition, Right Ankle Condition, Bilateral Foot Problems
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2022
- Citation
- 22031131
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 22031131.
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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