The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 13, 2015, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 13, 2015, for a higher rating of 20 percent for SFW of the left elbow with numbness flexor surface left forearm with limitation of motion of the thumb has also been denied.
The deciding factor: The record does not contain any indication that the Veteran raised the issue of service connection for tinnitus prior to October 13, 2015. The effective date is set at the date on which the claim was received.,There is no evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the Veteran's claim for a higher rating. Therefore, the effective date for any higher rating must be based on the date of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Tinnitus, Shrapnel Fragment Wound (SFW) of the Left Elbow with Numbness Flexor Surface Left Forearm with Limitation of Motion of the Thumb, Index Finger, and Long Finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19170913
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 19170913.
What this means for you
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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 bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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