The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period (1 year of separation from service). Continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's initial rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, prior to October 29, 2018, was denied as his claim was part of a TDIU application. The Board remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's total disability rating for individual unemployability, prior to October 29, 2018, was referred to the Compensation Service Director for further review.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a current hearing loss disability that began during service or within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's in-service hearing tests showed no significant decrease in hearing.,There is insufficient evidence to determine if the initial rating and TDIU claims were warranted prior to October 29, 2018.,The Veteran was found unemployable by reason of his service-connected psychiatric disorders prior to October 29, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Bipolar Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2023
- Citation
- 23022168
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 23022168.
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 Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the original decision. The issues are being remanded for further examination and consideration of new evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have these conditions during service, nor can they be presumed to have developed within one year after separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to noise exposure.
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