The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected perforated left ear drum is remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination and updated treatment records.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has alleged an increase in symptom severity since his last examination, and there is no additional medical evidence addressing the current level of impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- perforated left ear drum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20067477
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 granted service connection for sleep apnea and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include a depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a perforated left ear drum.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.