The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's perforated tympanic membrane. A new or addendum medical opinion is required from a qualified examiner, specifically an otolaryngologist.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA medical opinion was not authored by an otolaryngologist and thus inadequate for determining the etiology of the Veteran's perforated tympanic membrane.
- Claimed conditions
- perforation of the right tympanic membrane
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21074089
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 21074089.
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 granted service connection for perforation of the right tympanic membrane. The issues of service connection for lung cancer, bone cancer, and cause of death are remanded due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected back disorder, as his other disabilities did not contribute to his unemployability prior to September 13, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for lower back strain, hearing loss, and perforation of the right tympanic membrane. The decision is based on the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the low back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's current disability picture in relation to his claims on appeal.
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