The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), and heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure) due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if any of the claimed conditions are etiologically related to service. The Veteran was not afforded a VA examination, and his lay statements were not supported by an etiological opinion from a medical professional.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18110055
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 18110055.
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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