The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and additional development is required, including obtaining USMC Reserve records and VA opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that prior to further appellate review, additional substantive development was needed, such as obtaining missing USMC Reserve records and VA opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability (originally claimed as a left knee replacement), diabetic tremors, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), to include loss of part of the right ear, cardiovascular disability (other than atherosclerotic heart disease), originally claimed as atrial fibrillation and heart valve replacement
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18130027
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 18130027.
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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