The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions obtained prior to the February 2020 decision on appeal are inadequate for adjudication. The Veteran's OSA is remanded for a new opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected nose fracture, while the tinnitus claim is also remanded for a new opinion considering the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma and recent statements.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not consider aggravation of OSA by the service-connected nose fracture or address the Veteran's recent statements regarding his symptoms prior to surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2021
- Citation
- A21019663
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 A21019663.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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