The Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right foot skin condition, and high blood pressure have been reopened. The issues are being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.,Service connection has not been established for a scar in the lower right side due to kidney surgery or a scar in the posterior trunk.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence was received, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right foot skin condition, and high blood pressure. The Veteran's testimony provided new information about his service history that could support these claims.,The Veteran's claim for a scar in the lower right side due to kidney surgery is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or incident leading to this scar. The claim for a scar in the posterior trunk is granted based on competent lay testimony and medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Eye Disability, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Lumbar Spine Disability, Right Foot Skin Condition, High Blood Pressure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22036877
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 22036877.
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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.