The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable prior to May 20, 2015 and at least 10 percent thereafter. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for the low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been found compensable prior to May 20, 2015 and at least 10 percent thereafter. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for the low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish that the Veteran currently has left lower extremity radiculopathy or that it began during service.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no current diagnosis of left lower extremity radiculopathy and the examiner's opinion was unclear.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2022
- Citation
- 22052627
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 22052627.
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.
- 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.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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