The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and GAD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The low back disorder claim remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was validly submitted. For bilateral hearing loss, the current evidence does not meet VA criteria for hearing loss. Service connection cannot be established without meeting these criteria. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disorder requires further development due to insufficient medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and generalized anxiety disorder), low back disorder (including lumbar strain, DDD, and scoliosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26025810
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 A26025810.
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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