The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not meet the VA standards for a current disability of bilateral hearing loss. The evidence submitted is new but not material as it fails to establish that he has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to service, including his parachuting experience and motor vehicle accident. Further examination is needed to determine if there is a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disorder may be related to his parachute jumps or a prior injury during Reserve service. A new VA examination is required to address this theory of entitlement.,There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's shin splints to his service-connected disabilities. Further examination is needed to determine if there is a nexus between his current conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety, adjustment disorder, and depression)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20039888
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 20039888.
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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