The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings and TDIU due to PTSD and alcohol use disorder prior to January 16, 2020 is not yet resolved as there are additional issues of employability with a variety of symptoms and work dysfunctioning. These issues require further development.
The deciding factor: The current rating schedule does not provide for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent or TDIU prior to January 16, 2020 due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions without additional evidence regarding his employability and work functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, hiatal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23061089
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 23061089.
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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