The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying specific dates of active duty training. The VA will also seek a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as foot disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current opinions were inadequate due to lack of consideration of the Appellant's testimony about noise exposure during basic training and the onset of symptoms shortly after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability (hammertoe, hallux valgus, arthritis), left foot disability (hammertoe, hallux valgus, calcaneal spur, arthritis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20071131
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 20071131.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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