The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's vertigo secondary to his service-connected tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right elbow disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity finger and/or hand disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hernia is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hypertension to include as due to Camp Lejeune service is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: Granting the benefit of the doubt, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during military service.,Granting reasonable doubt to the Veteran, his vertigo is caused by his service-connected tinnitus.,The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries and continued symptoms since service. The Board finds a remand necessary for addendum opinions that take into consideration the entirety of the evidence of record.,VA examinations are required due to the Veteran's competent lay testimony of in-service injuries, current diagnoses, and continuity of symptomatology since service.,The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries. The Board finds a remand necessary for addendum opinions that take into consideration the entirety of the evidence of record.,VA examinations are required due to the Veteran's competent lay testimony of in-service injuries, current diagnoses, and continuity of symptomatology since service.,The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injuries. The Board finds a remand necessary for addendum opinions that take into consideration the entirety of the evidence of record.,VA examinations are required due to the Veteran's competent lay testimony of in-service injuries, current diagnoses, and continuity of symptomatology since service.,The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service exposures. The Board finds a remand necessary for addendum opinions that take into consideration the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,VA examinations are required due to the Veteran's competent lay testimony of in-service injuries, current diagnoses, and continuity of symptomatology since service.,The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service exposures. The Board finds a remand necessary for addendum opinions that take into consideration the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, bilateral upper extremity finger and/or hand disability, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), hernia, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24017246
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 24017246.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- 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 for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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