The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus, which he claims is related to his in-service noise exposure and his current service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions regarding the onset of tinnitus during service or its relationship to his service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was based on the lack of reported tinnitus in service treatment records, which the Veteran disputes as he claims it began during service and has been chronic since then. The Board finds this inadequate and requires an addendum opinion regarding the onset and causation of tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2011
- Citation
- 1106828
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 1106828.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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