Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Dismissed

Service connection for adult onset diabetes mellitus (ACE) is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,Service connection for right shoulder arthritis is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition was related to service, specifically a football injury during active duty and subsequent treatment in service.,Service connection for left knee disability is denied. The Board concluded there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service or any nexus between the current condition and service-connected conditions.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted based on its manifestation in service and after separation from service.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced ringing in his ears since separation from service.

The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claim for diabetes mellitus, which was not related to service or any presumptive period.,The VA examiner found no continuity of symptomatology and concluded that the current right shoulder arthritis is less likely than not incurred during service. The Board agreed with this finding.,The VA examiner found no evidence of a nexus between the current left knee disability and service, including the in-service injury. The Veteran's testimony was considered but did not change the conclusion.,There was no evidence of hearing loss during the appeal period for right ear hearing loss.,Left ear hearing loss is granted as it manifested in service and after separation from service.,The Board found that the Veteran experienced ringing in his ears since separation from service.

Claimed conditions
adult onset diabetes mellitus (ACE), right shoulder arthritis, left knee disability, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
June 3, 2020
Citation
20037911

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 20037911.

What this means for you

A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.

What you can do next

Related decisions

Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.