The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee disorders, shoulder disorders, elbow disorders, wrist and hand disorders, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and TMJ (chronic pain), were denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of the claimed conditions. The medical evidence overwhelmingly shows post-service injuries to these joints in post-service motor vehicle accidents occurring in 2001 and 2004, which are more likely related to his civilian life than military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Bilateral Knee Disorders, Bilateral Shoulder Disorders, Bilateral Elbow Disorders, Bilateral Wrist and Hand Disorders, Low Back Disorder, Right Ankle Disorder, TMJ (Chronic Pain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 23, 2011
- Citation
- 1124021
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 1124021.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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