The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial compensable rating for TBI residuals were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service, and that the Veteran had already been compensated for other related disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners could not establish a causal relationship between the claimed conditions and active service due to lack of documentation regarding the in-service head injury and its severity.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, memory impairment, attention impairment, concentration impairment, executive functions impairment, judgment impairment, social interaction impairment, orientation impairment, motor activity impairment, visual spatial orientation impairment, communication impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19126286
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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