The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to noise during active duty service is sufficient evidence of in-service injury. However, service connection for a neck disability was denied due to the Veteran's own willful misconduct resulting from alcohol consumption.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran sustained a neck injury as a result of his own willful misconduct (drinking alcohol and driving under the influence), which is not considered in the line of duty, thus denying service connection for the neck disability.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, neck disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19187424
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,902 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19187424.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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