The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and neurobehavioral effects due to in-service exposure to toxins, including through Camp Lejeune activities. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the criteria for providing an examination addressing the Veteran's in-service toxic exposure risk activities have been met and remanded the claims due to potential service connection based on such exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- right and left ear hearing loss, neurobehavioral effects (also claimed as trigeminal neuralgia, loss of use right side of face, nerve damage, and surgery residuals)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26011116
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 A26011116.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is not entitled to a rating higher than 10 percent. The claims for service connection of right and left ear hearing loss and left knee disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility to receive financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or adaptive equipment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to in-service noise exposure, but further examination is needed to determine this.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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