The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now service-connected based on in-service noise exposure and current disability.,Service connection for diabetes was denied due to lack of evidence showing chronicity or a presumptive link to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, which is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, supports a finding of service connection for hearing loss. For diabetes, there was insufficient evidence to establish exposure to Agent Orange and thus no presumption of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (Diabetes), Heart Condition, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2024
- Citation
- A24027891
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A24027891.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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