The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim is now reopened and will be reviewed on its merits.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis (MS) is denied. No new and material evidence has been received within a year of the November 2014 decision.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus prior to September 7, 2016 is denied. The maximum schedular rating available (10%) has been assigned.,No effective date prior to September 7, 2016 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted as the evidence does not meet the criteria.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's depression with short-term memory loss was found to be due to a non-service-connected multiple sclerosis. New evidence indicates that his depression may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder and tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran’s MS and service, nor within a presumptive period. The Veteran's statements are considered cumulative and redundant of previous assertions in the record at the time of the November 2014 decision.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence that addresses an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim for peripheral neuropathy, such as nexus between the disability and service or a service-connected condition. The Veteran is not competent to attribute his MS to service or symptoms in service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy apart from MS. The Veteran's lay statements do not offer additional material information not previously considered by the RO, as VA medical records do not show a relationship between peripheral neuropathy and service or a service-connected disability.,The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus (10%) has been assigned. There is no evidence to suggest that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected condition.

Claimed conditions

Acquired psychiatric disorder, Multiple sclerosis (MS), Peripheral neuropathy, Tinnitus

How they argued it

Reopened with new and material evidence

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

June 21, 2019

Citation

19148797

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 19148797.