The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or related to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and testicular injury are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the weight of the evidence does not demonstrate a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, as there were no significant changes in hearing thresholds during service. The examiner opined that post-service occupational noise exposure and natural aging are more likely causes.,For PTSD, the VA examiner did not provide an adequate opinion due to lack of discussion on the 1976 in-service treatment for situational adjustment disorder. For testicular injury, there is a need to obtain medical records from before 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), testicular injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2024
- Citation
- 24011829
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 24011829.
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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