The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected defective hearing, but the RO denied this claim based on recent VA examinations. The Board has ordered a remand to re-examine the veteran and determine if he suffers from other ear conditions that might be rated under different diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The veteran's current hearing loss is not the only issue; his symptoms include discharge, ringing, pain, and numbness in the right ear. These additional issues may warrant a higher rating based on different criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- defective hearing, discharge from both ears, ringing in the right ear, constant numbness in the right ear, heavy wax with itching
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 8, 2007
- Citation
- 0735297
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0735297.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 6, 2012 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's motion to vacate a 1979 Board decision regarding defective hearing and tinnitus was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for defective hearing and hypertension due to additional VA medical records being added to the file after a previous SSOC. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for defective hearing prior to July 28, 2020 is remanded for a retrospective medical opinion. The claim for service connection for hypertension is also remanded as there was not substantial compliance with the August 2019 remand directive.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete processing. The Veteran's defective hearing and hypertension service connection claims are not ready for review.
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