The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus issues are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is remanded to develop evidence regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability rating is remanded due to a new MRI showing increased severity.,A new VA examination is needed for the left knee issue.
The deciding factor: There are insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology and severity of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his psychiatric disorder. The evidence shows changes in these conditions that need to be evaluated by a VA examiner.,The October 2022 DBQ did not provide sufficient rationale for its conclusions regarding secondary service connection. A new VA medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's lay testimony and current mental health condition.,The left knee disability has shown progression, necessitating a new examination to assess its current severity based on recent MRI findings.,VA examiners must obtain information about functional impairment during exacerbations or after repetitive use. A new VA examination for the left knee is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed (including PTSD and depression with polysubstance abuse), chondromalacia, left knee
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23017676
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 23017676.
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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