The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. Headaches are not productive of prostrating attacks and do not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for left knee strain and right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or related to service. The Veteran's current right knee disability is remanded due to the lack of a diagnosis in the medical records.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that the Veteran’s current left and right knee disabilities are related to service, including hard physical demands during combat.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Tinnitus","status":"Dismissing"}, {"condition_name":"Headaches","status":"Denied"}, {"condition_name":"Left Knee Strain","status":"Denied"}, {"condition_name":"Right Knee Disability","status":"Remanded"}, {"condition_name":"Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms","status":"Reassigned to Remand"}, {"condition_name":"Cervical Strain","status":"Reassigned to Remand"}, {"condition_name":"Thoracolumbar Scoliosis","status":"Remanded"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability","status":"Remanded"}, {"condition_name":"Vertigo","status":"Remanded"}, {"condition_name":"Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)","status":"Remanded"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19191940
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 19191940.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 20, 2023 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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