The Veteran's claim for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as the VA examination provided was inadequate and additional evidence is needed, including Social Security Administration records and private treatment records.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by the VA examiner was not adequate for rating purposes and there are reasonable possibilities that relevant medical records from the SSA and private practitioners may be associated with the claims file.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, degenerative changes to both tibiotalar and both talonavicular joints with degenerative joint disease of the sacroiliac joint, asthma, right great toe bunionectomy, left great toe bunionectomy with adductor release, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1221463
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 1221463.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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