The Board has determined that the veteran does not have tinnitus due to service, and his left knee and right ankle disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The low back disability also does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of tinnitus due to service acoustic trauma. The veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities have been characterized by subjective complaints but minimal functional impairment, while his low back disability has only mild intervertebral disc syndrome without incapacitating episodes.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the low back (low back disability), patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee (left knee disability), status post sprain and degenerative changes of the right ankle (right ankle disability), tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2003
- Citation
- 0310724
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 0310724.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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