The appeal seeking an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,The appeals seeking increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.,New and material evidence has not been received, the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disorder is denied. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is remanded.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including hammer toes, hallux valgus, and degenerative arthritis, is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claims seeking increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss prior to the promulgation of a decision with respect to these appeals.,Evidence received since the final March 2006 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the right ankle claim only, but does not establish a causal link between service and the claimed disorder.,The newly submitted evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current right ankle disorder and his military service.,Evidence received since the final March 2006 rating decision fails to establish a causal link between the Veteran's lower back disorder and his military service.,There is no evidence of record that establishes a left ankle disorder during the pendency of this appeal, nor does it suggest any in-service event or nexus element for service connection.,The May 2017 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s bilateral foot disorders are not related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, lower back disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19116617
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 19116617.
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 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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