The Board remands the claims for service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction and right ear hearing loss, as additional evidence is needed to clarify whether the Veteran has a current disability of eustachian tube dysfunction and if it is related to his active service.
The deciding factor: Further development by a qualified medical professional is required to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- eustachian tube dysfunction, right ear hearing loss (secondary to eustachian tube dysfunction)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2025
- Citation
- 25007335
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from performing the physical and mental acts required for substantially gainful employment prior to April 3, 2018. However, he is entitled to special monthly compensation based on housebound status from April 3, 2018 to May 4, 2022.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for eustachian tube dysfunction as the Veteran's hearing loss was no worse than Level I in both ears, and there was no evidence of an exceptional disability picture.
- Granted
The Board granted a timely notice of disagreement (NOD) for the denial of service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction, a left hip condition, and thrombocytopenia.
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