The Board has remanded three issues: 1) service connection for a left shoulder disability, 2) an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected narcolepsy, and 3) an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected eczema. The hearing testimony indicated that the Veteran's conditions have worsened since the last evaluations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability in either ear, as none of the puretone thresholds exceeded 40 decibels and speech recognition scores were higher than 94 percent. The Veteran testified at his March 2020 hearing that he has experienced an increase in narcoleptic episodes since the July 2017 VA examination, and a new evaluation is necessary to determine the current severity of the disability. At the hearing, the Veteran also indicated that his eczema has flared up in more severe manifestations since the July 2017 VA examination, necessitating a new evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, narcolepsy, eczema, left shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20029274
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 20029274.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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