The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right ear and chronic ear infection.
The deciding factor: The VA examination provided by the examiner was inadequate as it did not address whether the in-service ear infections led to the development of the current squamous cell carcinoma, which is a critical factor in determining service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right ear status post mastoidectomy, chronic ear infection
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2017
- Citation
- 1739055
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 1739055.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including ear infections, respiratory issues, sleep disorders, and hiatal hernia. The case is being returned to obtain additional examinations and opinions addressing secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ear condition, including perforated tympanic membrane, chronic ear infection, and eustachian tube dysfunction, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a bilateral ear condition, to include perforated tympanic membrane, chronic ear infection, and eustachian tube dysfunction, as the current medical opinions are inadequate.
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