The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's tympanic membrane perforation is related to his Army Reserve service, specifically exposure to 50 caliber gun noise inside of an M60 tank.
The deciding factor: The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the tympanic membrane perforation or its residuals are related to ACDUTRA service, including exposure to 50 caliber gun noise inside of an M60 Tank.
- Claimed conditions
- tympanic membrane perforation
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18117120
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 18117120.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including eye disability, foot pain, stomach disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and non-compensable ratings for post traumatic headaches, right lower extremity scars, tympanic membrane perforation, right knee tendinopathy, and lumbosacral strain.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and North Port Emergency Care Center on October 14, 2016 is granted. The treatment was provided in a hospital emergency department due to severe lower extremity pain and swelling related to his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tympanic membrane perforation, and otosclerosis. The claims of tympanic membrane perforation and otosclerosis are also referred back to the AOJ.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a right knee condition, tympanic membrane perforation, and an increased rating for hearing loss due to the appellant's withdrawal of these appeals.
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