The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, with degenerative changes, and entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unable to provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's tinnitus due to lack of evidence in his STRs. The VA examiner also failed to consider the Veteran’s contention that his problems sleeping began in service and provided an inadequate examination for the left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, with degenerative changes.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19132890
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- 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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