The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease, as well as an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection in these cases due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and ischemic heart disease (specifically atrial fibrillation) and his military service, nor did the medical evidence support these claims. The criteria for direct service connection were not met in any of the issues presented.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (specifically atrial fibrillation)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1753562
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 1753562.
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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