The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right ankle disabilities, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. These issues are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as a VA examination opinion was inadequate.
The deciding factor: The Board found the previously denied claims were reopened based on new and material evidence, but these cases need to be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions in previous examinations.,The examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of bilateral hearing loss could not be provided without resorting to speculation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20011758
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 20011758.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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