The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.
The deciding factor: The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions as well as the need to locate service treatment records and determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shin splints, right shin splints, left shoulder disorder (claimed as shoulder problems and joint pain), right shoulder disorder (claimed as shoulder problems and joint pain), frostbite of the feet, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches (secondary to TBI), left wrist disorder (claimed as wrist pain, joint pain and tendinitis), right wrist disorder (claimed as wrist pain, joint pain and tendinitis), left hip disorder (claimed as hip pain, joint pain and tendinitis), right hip disorder (claimed as hip pain, joint pain and tendinitis), left ankle disorder (claimed as ankle pain, joint pain and tendinitis), right ankle disorder (claimed as ankle pain, joint pain and tendinitis), left knee disorder (claimed as knee pain, joint pain and tendinitis), right knee disorder (claimed as knee pain, joint pain and tendinitis), left elbow disorder (claimed as elbow pain and joint pain), right elbow disorder (claimed as elbow pain and joint pain), left little finger disorder (claimed as left pinky finger injury), right little finger disorder (claimed as right pinky finger), bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as feet problems), hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, left foot, hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, right foot, lumbar spine disorder (claimed as back pain), cervical spine disorder (claimed as neck pain), erectile dysfunction (ED) (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder or as due to an undiagnosed illness), sleep apnea (due to an undiagnosed illness), skin disorder (claimed as dry skin on both arms, back of neck and small of back with itching), sinus disorder (claimed as sinus problems), hair loss (due to an undiagnosed illness), stomach pain (due to an undiagnosed illness), groin problems and pain (due to an undiagnosed illness), right eye disorder (claimed as weakness and pink eye)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18150341
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 18150341.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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