The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service due to a lack of evidence of hearing impairment or ringing in the ears during service and no significant permanent shift in hearing thresholds greater than normal measurement variability from entrance to separation.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), as there was no objective evidence that the Veteran experienced significant distress while in service, and his current diagnosis does not meet DSM criteria related to military service. The Board found that the Veteran's sleep impairment is less likely than not caused by or related to his time in service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any of the conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), a chronic disability manifested by sleep impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20027796
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20027796.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Whole decision: 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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