The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and his variously diagnosed psychiatric disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus and claw foot with hallux valgus of the great toe and first metatarsal hammertoes is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.
The deciding factor: The opinions provided were inadequate as they did not address the likely etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, Hepatitis C, or lower extremity neurological disabilities. Additional examinations are necessary.,Incomplete records and lack of relevant medical evidence make it impossible to determine if the Veteran's Hepatitis C is related to his military service. Further examination is needed to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The opinions provided were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. Additional examinations are necessary.,The opinions provided were inadequate as they did not provide a clear determination of the appropriate rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain and bilateral pes cavus conditions. An examination is needed to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The opinions provided were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus and claw foot with hallux valgus of the great toe and first metatarsal hammertoes are related to his service-connected disabilities. An examination is needed to secure a fully adequate opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Hepatitis C, right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, variously diagnosed psychiatric disability (anxiety, depression, and mood disorder), lumbar strain, bilateral pes cavus and claw foot with hallux valgus of the great toe and first metatarsal hammertoes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18111988
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 18111988.
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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