The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but remanded four claims (asthma, kidney condition, bilateral foot condition, and acquired psychiatric condition) to obtain VA examinations and medical opinions. The denial of hearing loss was based on insufficient evidence of nexus between current disability and military service despite conceded in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The hearing loss claim was denied because the May 2019 VA examiner opinion, given great probative weight, concluded it was less likely than not that the hearing loss was caused by military noise exposure, the service treatment records showed hearing remained largely unchanged during service, and the evidence did not establish chronicity of symptoms in service or continuity thereafter attributable to sensorineural hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, asthma, kidney condition, bilateral foot condition, acquired psychiatric condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25028572
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25028572.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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