The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service or post-service continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to June 27, 2012 is also denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology for tinnitus or that it was related to service. The Veteran's service records do not show any mention of tinnitus, and his statements regarding its onset are inconsistent. For TDIU prior to June 27, 2012, the Board noted that the Veteran had a history of employment as a drummer and completed college education, indicating he was capable of securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, shrapnel wound scars, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2017
- Citation
- 1755143
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 1755143.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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