The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for perforated ear drums and an unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, as well as his request for an earlier effective date. The issues include obtaining medical records from prison facilities where the Veteran has been incarcerated since 1982, scheduling a VA examination to determine if current ear conditions are related to military service, and obtaining all available medical records from prison facilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that further efforts were needed to obtain necessary medical records and schedule an appropriate examination due to the Veteran's incarceration status.
- Claimed conditions
- perforated ear drums, tympanic membrane injury with bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20052497
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20052497.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for perforated ear drums as the Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the issue was not properly initiated in the first place.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining his prison medical records and determining if any current ear conditions are related to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for perforated ear drums, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a trauma and stressor-related disorder, and establishing an effective date prior to August 2, 2010 for the disorder remain pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claim for a TDIU rating prior to June 9, 2009, is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss, nerve damage and perforated ear drums, tinnitus in the right ear, and residuals from burns on the shoulders and back. The Board finds that additional VA examination is needed to determine the current existence and etiology of these conditions.
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