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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20052497.
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 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.