The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or continuity of symptomatology. His lumbar spine disability has been rated at the maximum allowable under the General Rating Formula, and his thoracic spine disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was not shown to be related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The lumbar spine disability is currently rated based on limitation of motion, with no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, thoracic spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19104947
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,071 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19104947.
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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