The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints is denied.,Service connection for plantar fascitis or a bilateral foot condition is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for joint pain in the elbows is remanded.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be related to service due to noise exposure, and reasonable doubt was resolved in his favor.,There is no current diagnosis of bilateral shin splints, and the evidence does not support a connection to service.,Further examination is needed to determine if there is any objective impairment of functioning as a result of an undiagnosed bilateral foot disability related to service.,The examiner was asked to provide opinions regarding whether hypertension had onset in or is otherwise related to active service, and whether the elbow condition had onset in or is otherwise related to active service. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim requires further analysis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The examiner was asked to provide opinions regarding whether the joint pain in the elbows is at least as likely as not attributable to an exposure event while serving in Southwest Asia, and if so, whether it is related to service-connected heart condition/ventricular arrhythmia.,An opinion on whether the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is caused or aggravated by his service-connected heart condition/ventricular arrhythmia was requested.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, bilateral shin splints, plantar fascitis/bilateral foot condition, hypertension, joint pain in elbows, chronic fatigue syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24007162
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 24007162.
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.
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The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
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The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
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