The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.
The deciding factor: Service records do not show any chronic low back disability diagnosed in or within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's current diagnosis is attributed to post-service factors such as work-related noise exposure and recreational activities without hearing protection. For tinnitus, the first reported symptoms were over 50 years after service.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, bilateral tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19176959
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for insomnia.
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