The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, deviated septum, residuals of pneumonia, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to incomplete VA outpatient treatment records. The Veteran is to be provided with another VA audiometric examination to determine if he currently has a hearing loss disability as defined by 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. Additionally, the Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations addressing his claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and lumbar spine disorder that include medical opinions documenting consideration of his assertions of continuity of symptomatology from service to the present time.
The deciding factor: The Board found incomplete VA outpatient treatment records and ordered their acquisition. The Board also directed the Veteran to be provided with another VA audiometric examination, as well as VA examinations addressing his claims for residuals of pneumonia and lumbar spine disorder that include medical opinions considering continuity of symptomatology from service to the present time.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, deviated septum, residuals of pneumonia, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18121865
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 18121865.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
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