The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for COPD and kidney disability are not within jurisdiction as they have not been perfected by the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The claims file is missing necessary audiological testing results, including those from March 2018, which prevents the Board from determining the appropriate rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran has also indicated his hearing loss had increased in severity since the last examination in April 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18112433
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18112433.
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
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- 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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