The Veteran's claims for headaches, increased ratings for hearing loss and depression, initial ratings for back disability and radiculopathy, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,His Social Security records must be obtained, as well as his Kansas City VAMC records from June 2016 to present. He should also undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his hearing loss, depression, back disability and radiculopathy, and the nature and etiology of his headache disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims require additional development due to missing records and need for medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, hearing loss, major depressive disorder, osteoarthritis thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19128321
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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