The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied as the current 10 percent rating is the highest available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis was also denied, as his condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the severity of obstruction or presence of polyps.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran’s appeal was denied because his current evaluation is at 0 percent (noncompensable).,The Board found that service connection for a right knee condition secondary to left knee degenerative arthritis should be remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding aggravation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus rating was denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the highest available under VA regulations.,The Veteran’s allergic rhinitis claim was denied because it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on obstruction or presence of polyps.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's current evaluation at 0 percent (noncompensable) did not warrant an increase in rating.,Service connection for the right knee condition secondary to left knee degenerative arthritis was remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19189132
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 19189132.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
- 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.
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