The Board denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing the disability was incurred in or aggravated by service, including consideration of delayed-onset tinnitus.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as major depressive disorder, is also denied because there is no credible evidence linking it to service-connected eczema.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have a nexus between his tinnitus and service due to lack of in-service noise exposure and insufficient medical evidence supporting delayed-onset tinnitus.,There was also no established link between the Veteran's major depressive disorder and his service-connected eczema, as the disability is more likely related to other stressors such as his wife's cancer and death.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2018
- Citation
- 18155691
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 18155691.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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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