The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, is also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has not provided a current diagnosis of tinnitus or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. The service treatment records do not indicate any complaints, diagnoses, or treatments related to these conditions.,There is no credible supporting evidence for the occurrence of an in-service stressor that would support a finding of PTSD and major depressive disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder), back condition, bilateral photophobia with visual filed defect and pupillary abnormalities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148183
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 claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- 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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