The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for a disability of the upper extremities, to include thoracic neuropathy, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a bilateral ankle and feet disability is remanded as the VA examiner found a negative nexus to service.,Service connection for a bilateral leg and knee disability is remanded as the VA examiner found a negative nexus to service.,Service connection for a lumbar disorder, claimed as lumbar radiculopathy, is remanded as the VA examiner found a negative nexus to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown in service and continuity of symptomatology has not been established. The VA audiologist opined that bilateral hearing loss was less likely than not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of thoracic neuropathy or any other upper extremity disability, nor is there evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's lay assertions are outweighed by the competent medical opinion.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy developed prior to complaints of chronic back pain and thus ruled out a nexus to his combat service in Vietnam.,The VA examiner found no evidence linking the Veteran's knee disabilities to service, including physical stress from combat service. The 2017 arthroscopic surgery is noted but not explained as related to service.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran's lumbar spine conditions developed after his military service and are unrelated to any physical stress during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, upper extremity disability (claimed as thoracic neuropathy), bilateral ankle and feet disability, bilateral leg and knee disability, lumbar disorder (claimed as lumbar radiculopathy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22055702
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 22055702.
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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