Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and higher ratings for lumbar strain, right knee instability, right knee osteoarthritis, removal of cartilage of the right knee, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) to obtain additional evidence.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to obtain private medical records and new examination opinions regarding the potential link between the Veteran's service-connected Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and his sleep apnea, as well as to address the impact of EDS on his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Sleep apnea, Lumbar strain, Right knee instability, Right knee osteoarthritis, Removal of cartilage of the right knee, Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2025
- Citation
- 25012408
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