The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and lack of objective testing. The Veteran's eustachian tube disorder is being reviewed for a new medical opinion regarding its etiology.
The deciding factor: The examiner did not provide sufficient information to decide the claim, including failing to address exposure to loud noises and providing an etiology without objective testing.
- Claimed conditions
- eustachian tube disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20036105
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 20036105.
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 denied increased ratings for left plantar fasciitis, Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction and varicocele, and right ankle tendinitis. The claims for service connection for eustachian tube disorder and urinary condition were remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's eustachian tube disorder of the right ear is not rated as compensable due to lack of evidence of chronic otitis externa, chronic otitis media, deformity of one auricle with loss of substance, or a peripheral vestibular disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for a sinus condition and eustachian tube disorder due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion, need for additional evidence, and need for an SSOC.
- Granted
The Veteran's eustachian tube disorder was granted service connection. For his thoracolumbar spine and left shoulder conditions, the Board found that he is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating prior to October 7, 2013.
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