The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, a low back disability, and an acquired respiratory disability to include COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by VA examiners were based solely on the absence of documentation in the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs), without considering other credible lay reports and favorable private physician opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, low back disability, acquired respiratory disability to include COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis, fibromyalgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2012
- Citation
- 1220006
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 1220006.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- 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.
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