The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The remaining issues of whether he is entitled to a higher rating for hearing loss and to service connection for an injury to the solar plexus or xiphoid process that manifests as difficulty breathing are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs document injuries during service, including back pain and complaints of difficulty breathing. The Board finds that these symptoms warrant further examination and development to determine if they are related to current disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease (DDD and DJD), injury to the solar plexus or xiphoid process causing difficulty breathing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2016
- Citation
- 1629056
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 1629056.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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