The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's chronic otitis media and perforated tympanic membrane. Additional medical opinions are needed from an ENT, considering the Veteran's lay statements and private treatment records.
The deciding factor: The VA opinions were based on incorrect data and failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements and private treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 29, 2022
- Citation
- 22018529
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 22018529.
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 determined that the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is in dispute due to a lack of private medical records, and thus the case must be remanded to obtain these records and provide an adequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic otitis media but denied a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of the current levels for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and otitis media; granted a separate 30 percent rating for vertigo; and granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ear condition, including perforated tympanic membrane, chronic ear infection, and eustachian tube dysfunction, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
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