The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his tension headaches are currently rated at 10 percent. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination to assess the severity of the right ankle strain.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable rating schedule.,The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his attacks are less frequent than once every two months.
The deciding factor: The VA examination was not conducted in accordance with Correia v. McDonald (2016), which requires joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing, and range of motion measurements of the opposite undamaged joint.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tension Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23047349
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 23047349.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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