The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board finds that the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran has a current left shoulder disability, but the VA examiner opined that it is most probably due to age-related degenerative joint disease (DJD). Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is inextricably intertwined with his left shoulder disability. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion on this issue.,The Veteran has a current headache condition, but did not report currently having them during the VA examination. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran served at Camp Lejeune with presumed exposure to contaminated water. Service connection may be established on a direct basis if related to exposure. Remand necessary for VA examinations and opinions.,The Veteran has a current diabetes condition, but did not report currently having it during the VA examination. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be granted as there is no evidence of chronic bilateral hearing loss in service or within one year after separation from service.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability may be due to age-related degenerative joint disease (DJD), but the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient basis for this conclusion. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,The right shoulder disability is inextricably intertwined with the left shoulder disability, so both must be remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's current headache condition may be related to service exposure, but the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient basis for this conclusion. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.,Service connection can still be established on a direct basis if related to Camp Lejeune exposure, so remand is necessary for VA examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's current diabetes condition may be related to service exposure, but the VA examiner did not provide a sufficient basis for this conclusion. Remand necessary for further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Left shoulder disability, Right shoulder disability, Headaches, Heart disease (presumably coronary artery disease), Diabetes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2023
- Citation
- 23011833
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 23011833.
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 claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
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