The Board has determined that the RO did not fully comply with prior remand directives and has therefore ordered further action on three issues: reopening of a back disorder claim, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased evaluation for scaphoid lunate advance collapse. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the RO did not obtain all requested VA treatment records and failed to notify the Veteran of unavailability or attempt further efforts to secure them. Additionally, the Veteran missed a scheduled VA examination for his hearing loss claim.
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, scaphoid lunate advance collapse, residuals of right wrist injury with right wrist pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20048641
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 20048641.
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 remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- 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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