The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's kidney problems (now claimed as kidney stones) were reopened due to new and material evidence, but service connection is still pending.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,New evidence showed that the Veteran's kidney problems may be related to his service, but further evaluation is needed to establish service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma and current symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Kidney Problems (now claimed as kidney stones), Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23061492
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 23061492.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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