The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable due to the lack of evidence showing a compensable level of disability.,There is no current diagnosis of urinary frequency, and the Veteran does not have any history or treatment for this condition. Therefore, service connection for urinary frequency is denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and there is no evidence linking his condition to service. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied.,VA examinations are required to determine if the Veteran's low back and neck conditions are related to his service, including any in-service incidents such as falls and carrying heavy objects.,VA examinations are needed to assess whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and IBS are related to his service, specifically his exposure to TERA during service.,VA examinations are required to determine if the Veteran's GERD is related to his service, including any in-service exposures such as TERA.,VA examinations are necessary to evaluate if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is linked to his service, considering his reported in-service exposure to TERA.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of urinary frequency or erectile dysfunction. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish these conditions during or near the pendency of this claim.,VA examinations are required as there is no current diagnosis for low back and neck conditions, and the relationship between service and these conditions needs further clarification.,The VA examiners' opinions regarding diabetes mellitus and IBS were inadequate. They did not discuss specific exposures during service and their potential impact on these conditions.,VA examinations are necessary to determine if GERD is related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to TERA, as there is no current diagnosis of this condition in the record.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Urinary Frequency, Erectile Dysfunction, Low Back Condition, Neck Condition, Diabetes Mellitus, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26033115
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 A26033115.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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