The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for an acquired mental health disorder (including PTSD and insomnia disorder) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for bilateral blepharitis is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a headache disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be at least in equipoise with service connection based on continuity of symptomatology and credible lay statements.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, acquired mental health disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and insomnia disorder), left knee disability, low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral blepharitis, headache disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2023
- Citation
- 23016740
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 23016740.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- 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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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