The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was presented to reopen the claim. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service noise exposure is considered credible.,Regarding COPD, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's time in service or his exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a direct link between the Veteran's current tinnitus and service, but does support a finding of continuity of symptomatology. For COPD, additional medical examination is needed due to conflicting information regarding its onset.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral tinnitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2018
- Citation
- 1815746
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 1815746.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left toe amputation, triple bypass surgery, blockage in legs, and bilateral tinnitus due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential exposure to toxins during service.
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