The Board denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, but awarded separate 10 percent ratings for mild incomplete paralysis of the left and right sciatic nerve associated with the lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners provided opinions that tinnitus was not related to service due to lack of documentation in service records. The Board found these opinions insufficient to rebut the presumption of soundness, given the Veteran's conceded noise exposure during service and other evidence supporting a link between service and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- strain of the lumbar spine, strain of the right knee, left knee disability (to include as secondary to a service-connected disability), left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2017
- Citation
- 1745958
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 1745958.
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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