The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative changes and strain, is denied as not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding the onset of tinnitus during service and its continuity since then, warranting service connection under the presumption of chronicity.,The VA examiner found that the lumbar spine disability was not caused by or related to any in-service injury, event, or illness. The Veteran's obesity and age were considered as potential causes for his degenerative changes.,There is no indication of hearing loss within one year after service discharge, and the Veteran did not exhibit symptoms of hearing loss until post-service. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's left hip disability was found by the VA examiner to be unrelated to his active duty service. A remand for further evaluation is necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2023
- Citation
- 23046066
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 23046066.
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 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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