The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left tympanic membrane disability and recurrent ear infections. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination, is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim requires further medical evaluation to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left tympanic membrane disability, recurrent ear infections
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2018
- Citation
- 1813708
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 1813708.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted. Service connection for recurrent ear infections was also granted. However, several disability rating increases were denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, and migraine headaches is granted. The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches is set at April 26, 2017. The Veteran's increased disability rating claim for migraine headaches is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, which may be related to in-service ear pathology including otitis externa and recurrent ear infections. The current claims are being returned for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on tinnitus and residuals of a laceration of the scalp have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded cases involving service connection, rating, and TDIU claims related to various conditions including PTSD, TBI, sinusitis, meningioma, and tympanic membrane disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.