The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s tinnitus was related to military noise exposure.,Service connection is denied for right corneal scars. The VA examiner concluded that the preexisting gunshot wound to the head did not result in aggravation of the current condition beyond its natural progression.
The deciding factor: The Veteran requested a withdrawal of his claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders during his hearing on September 9, 2019.,There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus was related to military noise exposure. The VA audiologist concluded that tinnitus did not result from it but noted other factors could also explain its presence.,The preexisting gunshot wound to the head did not result in aggravation of the current right corneal scars beyond their natural progression.
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), right corneal scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19188911
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 19188911.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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