The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus of the right ear and remanded the issue of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The decision on tinnitus is based on a finding that it did not have its onset in service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service. For IBS, the Board found an inadequate examination as it only addressed causation but not aggravation.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus was not related to his military noise exposure due to a lack of in-service complaints or findings and late onset post-service diagnosis. The VA examiner for IBS did not address the question of aggravation, which is required for secondary service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20020074
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 20020074.
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 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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