The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran should be scheduled for updated VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as well as the etiology of his claimed tinnitus and right knee disorder.
The deciding factor: The July 2009 VA joints examiner did not discuss the Veteran's lay assertions regarding the onset of his right knee condition during service. The July 2009 VA audiology examiner made no findings on the functional effects caused by the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss in his final report.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1511128
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 1511128.
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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