The Veteran's asthma, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), back disability, cervical spine disability, heart disability, bilateral ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability are not service connected. The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss were found to be aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's asthma was noted on entrance into service but is presumed sound as to this condition. Service treatment records do not establish aggravation of the preexisting asthma during service. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is not etiologically related to service. The back disability, cervical spine disability, heart disability, bilateral ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability are not service connected as they did not have their onset in service or within one year following service discharge, and are not etiologically related to service. Service connection for tinnitus was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Asthma, Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression), Back disability (degenerative joint disease), Cervical spine disability (degenerative joint disease), Heart (cardiovascular) disability, Bilateral ankle disability (degenerative joint disease), Left foot disability, Right foot disability (degenerative joint disease), Bilateral hip disability (degenerative joint disease), Bilateral knee disability (degenerative joint disease), Bilateral shoulder disability, Tinnitus, Right ear hearing loss, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2017
- Citation
- 1719684
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1719684.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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