The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 25, 2011. The claims for tobacco use disorder, left foot disability, right foot disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability were all denied as not related to service or due to other pre-existing conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied. The claim for residuals of a left forearm scar was also denied.
The deciding factor: For tinnitus: The effective date is based on the receipt of the May 2011 claim, as it did not arise earlier within one year of separation from service.,For tobacco use disorder (claimed as cigarette addiction): Service connection cannot be granted because tobacco use itself is not a disability for which service connection can be granted. The Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection under VAOGCPREC 6-2003.,For left foot, right foot, lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities: Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of onset or aggravation during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,For left leg disability, right leg disability, and sleep apnea: Service connection was denied as the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence that these conditions began in service or were otherwise related to his military service.,For residuals of a left forearm scar: The Veteran's claim for this condition was also denied.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, left foot disability, right foot disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, sleep apnea, left forearm scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079651
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 20079651.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- 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.
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