The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development of his claim for a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU). The AOJ must ensure that the Veteran undergoes an adequate VA examination and obtain an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, epicondylitis of the right elbow, and low back disability, preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The remand is necessary to ensure that the Veteran undergoes a comprehensive VA examination and receives an opinion regarding his employability based on all relevant evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, tinnitus, clavicle/scapula impairment, impairment of radius, lumbosacral/cervical strain, hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1734782
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 1734782.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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