The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for Eustachian tube dysfunction with left ear fullness and pain, as it found a duty to assist error occurred prior to the January 2020 rating decision. The VA medical opinion provided by the examiner did not adequately address both causation and aggravation in the context of secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion was inadequate because it only addressed whether the Eustachian tube dysfunction is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected condition without addressing whether it is aggravated by the service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Eustachian tube dysfunction, left ear fullness and pain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24046357
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A24046357.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction and related hearing impairment was denied. The Veteran also had his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 3, 2018, denied. His claim for special monthly compensation from May 4, 2022, was granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of Eustachian tube dysfunction, finding no causal relationship between his claimed condition and his military service or any toxic exposures.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a left and right knee disability, fatty liver, eustachian tube dysfunction, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for eustachian tube dysfunction due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities meeting VA criteria.
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