The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there were not sufficient grounds for a grant of this benefit.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have tinnitus or any related symptoms during service and that his current tinnitus is not linked to military noise exposure. For the thoracolumbar spine disability, the Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to February 26, 2007, and since December 10, 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2016
- Citation
- 1647447
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 1647447.
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.
- 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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