The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the case is remanded to further develop evidence related to the character of discharge issue.,Service connection for hypertension and bilateral numbness of the hands (carpal tunnel syndrome) remains in dispute due to unresolved issues regarding the Appellant's military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to active duty service, but remanded to clarify the character of discharge issue. Service connection for hypertension and carpal tunnel syndrome is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the character of discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Hypertension, Bilateral Numbness of the Hands (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24016645
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 24016645.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- 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.
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