The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether any of the Veteran's contended complications are actually complications of his left ear otitis media and externa. The AOJ must also analyze if an extraschedular rating is needed.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection but rather about determining the appropriate disability ratings for the Veteran's conditions, including whether any additional complications warrant separate ratings or if an extraschedular evaluation is necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear otitis media, external ear canal
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20010938
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 20010938.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a lower back disability, residuals of inguinal hernia repair, residuals of umbilical hernia repair, and sinusitis. Service connection was denied for an ulcer, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and acne.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ear otitis media, chronic pharyngitis, and a spine disability due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider the appellant's lay statements.
- Denied
The Veteran's left ear otitis media is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that there was no evidence of suppuration or aural polyps to warrant a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's left ear otitis media and externa, as well as outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.
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