The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had onset during active service or are otherwise causally connected to his service. The VA failed to provide a proper examination, as required by law, which prevented an accurate determination of these issues. As such, the case must be remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA did not comply with its duty to assist in obtaining a proper medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2023
- Citation
- A23033438
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A23033438.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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