The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are granted, with PTSD being secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, sinusitis, cervical degenerative disc and joint disease (neck condition), acid reflux, chronic fatigue syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tension headaches are all remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss that meets the threshold set forth in VA regulations to be considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected PTSD, and unspecified depressive disorder is found to be secondary to PTSD.,Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or other factors.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2023
- Citation
- 23059404
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 23059404.
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 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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