The Veteran contends connection for a lumbar spine condition and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's skin disorder of actinic keratosis is likely unrelated to his service.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient evidence to establish a link-in or aggravate lumbar spine condition and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Board also found that the skin disorderic keratosis is not related to military service.,The dermatologist must specify whether it is at least as likely as not, i.e., there is at least a 50/50 chance, that any diagnosed skin of actinic keratosis is due to or aggravated by active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine condition, tinnitus, skin disorder to include actinic keratosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004720
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.
- 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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