The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient opinions from the VA examiner regarding otitis externa and its relation to bilateral hearing loss, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on the combined effect of service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unable to provide sufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing aids and otitis externa, necessitating further examination by an otolaryngologist. Additionally, a vocational expert is needed to assess the combined functional impairment from all service-connected conditions for TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, otitis externa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22069418
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 22069418.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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