The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted for the hearing loss claim, and the AOJ should request that the Veteran complete and return VA Form 21-8940 for the TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the schedular ratings did not adequately contemplate the Veteran's symptoms of ear pain and difficulty using hearing aids, which constitute an exceptional disability picture. The case is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23066350
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 23066350.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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