The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.
The deciding factor: New evidence is needed as the last examination was performed almost eight years ago, and there may have been significant changes in the Veteran's conditions since then.
- Claimed conditions
- chest wall pain, bilateral hearing loss, chronic cough, heat injury (heat stroke), left shoulder strain with rotator cuff injury, right shoulder strain with rotator cuff injury, left wrist tendonitis with likely carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist tendonitis with likely carpal tunnel syndrome, motion related vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, right knee scars status post microsurgery, tension headaches, left lower extremity neuropathy with left toe numbness, right lower extremity neuropathy with right toe numbness, temporomandibular dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18118793
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 18118793.
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 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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