The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Veteran's residual scar of the right lower quadrant is granted a 20 percent rating since November 25, 2015. Service connection for renal cell carcinoma (status post removal of right kidney) and prostate cancer are granted with effective dates prior to January 23, 2014.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, residual scar of the right lower quadrant, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's testimony regarding his exposure to noise during service supported his claim for tinnitus. For the scar, the VA examiner found one scar that was both painful and unstable with an area of 32 square centimeters.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, residual scar of the right lower quadrant, renal cell carcinoma (status post removal of right kidney), chronic cholecystitis (claimed as gallbladder condition due to radiation exposure), left kidney condition, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence (claimed as bladder condition due to prostate cancer)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19129440
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- 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.
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