The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since, warranting service connection.,There is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: For tinnitus, the Board finds that the Veteran's lay reports are sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology since service. For hearing loss, there is insufficient audiometric testing results meeting the criteria for a current disability.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, plantar fasciitis, right lateral epicondylitis (claimed as tennis elbow), left lateral epicondylitis (claimed as tennis elbow), right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 25, 2024
- Citation
- A24061010
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 A24061010.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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