The veteran is seeking service connection for left ear tinnitus, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service as an anti-aircraft gunner. The VA has not been able to obtain the veteran's service medical records due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973 and thus cannot determine if there is a connection between his current tinnitus and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA was unable to locate the veteran's service medical records, which are presumed destroyed by a fire in 1973. Without these records, it is not possible to determine whether the veteran's current left ear tinnitus is related to his military service as an anti-aircraft gunner.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2004
- Citation
- 0423000
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 0423000.
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.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,Service connection for right ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right ankle disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for back disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right knee disability secondary to service-connected right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left knee disability secondary to service-connected left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and left ear tinnitus but denied it for right ear hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for back disability, left foot plantar fasciitis, respiratory condition, skin condition, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, left knee disability, left leg arthritis, right knee disability, and right leg arthritis. However, the Veteran's claim for migraine headaches was granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for left ear tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.
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