The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.
The deciding factor: The decision on tinnitus grants service connection based on the credible evidence that it began in service and has persisted since. Other claims are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, arthritis, left shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, headaches, psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression), right foot hallux valgus disability, left foot disability, left 5th finger neuroma, left 5th digit degenerative arthritis, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral arm disability, bilateral hand disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158764
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 19158764.
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 Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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