The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as service-connected, with the Board concluding that there is no persuasive evidence showing a nexus between his current condition and active service.,PTSD is remanded for further development including verification of stressors and provision of a VA psychiatric opinion.,An acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include depression and anxiety) is also remanded, with the same considerations as PTSD.,Essential tremors of the left and right hands are remanded due to their potential connection to PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to in-service hazardous noise exposure, which is considered a direct service connection case.,For bilateral hearing loss, there was no persuasive evidence showing a nexus between the current condition and active service. The Veteran had stable audiograms at entry and exit, indicating no significant hearing loss during service.,PTSD requires verification of stressors based on personal assault or other verified events. Without this information, it is not possible to determine if PTSD is related to service.,An acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include depression and anxiety) also requires verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.,Essential tremors are remanded as they may be related to PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, necessitating further development in these areas.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression and anxiety, essential tremors of the left and right hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23066732
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 23066732.
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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