The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found no new and relevant evidence presented to warrant readjudicating the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran's upper extremity radiculopathy was not related to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for PTSD could not be established due to lack of verified in-service stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2019
- Citation
- A19001623
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 remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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