The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,Issues related to right hip disorder and left knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence on etiology.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for sensorineural hearing loss of the right ear, and entitlement to a higher rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The new evidence does not show that left ear hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.,The new evidence does not show that degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine developed in service or is otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.,No VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether right hip disorder and left knee disorder are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee.,The new evidence does not show that right hip disorder and left knee disorder are related to in-service injury or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right hip disorder, left knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20005166
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,432 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20005166.
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 has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a failure to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
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