The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service, as the evidence does not support a finding that they began during service or are otherwise linked to an in-service injury or disease.,Bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have had its onset during service or within one year of separation from active duty. The Veteran did not report any hearing issues during service and there is no evidence of noise exposure related to his military duties.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's migraine headaches are less likely than not caused by an in-service head injury, as he had no chronic headache complaints or treatment after separation from service.,There was no hearing loss diagnosed during service and no evidence of noise exposure related to his military duties. The Veteran did not report any hearing issues during service.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23053563
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 23053563.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
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