The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is also the maximum rating.,Service connection for back disability, headaches disability, insomnia disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded due to missing private medical records.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 80 percent based on his audiometric testing results.,Service connection for back disability, headaches disability, insomnia disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability cannot be established as there are missing private medical records.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, headaches disability, insomnia disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2026
- Citation
- A26023431
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 A26023431.
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 claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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