The Board has decided to take jurisdiction over the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability and the reopened claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issues of an increased rating for the service connected lumbar spine disability are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).
The deciding factor: The medical evidence raises the issue of erectile dysfunction and whether it is caused by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Cervical spine disability (to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability), Lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2016
- Citation
- 1611668
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 1611668.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied.
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