The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The August 1968 rating decision for the laceration scar with residual flexion deformity of the right little finger, external otitis, and anxiety reaction is granted as CUE. The July 1973 reduction in disability rating for the right hand and forearm condition is also granted as CUE.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to service due to his exposure to noise during combat. For the other issues, the decision finds that the correct facts were not before the RO at the time of the original decisions, leading to a change in outcome if the error had been addressed.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, laceration scar with residual flexion deformity of the right little finger, anxiety reaction, mild, with a psychophysiological skin reaction, external otitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080637
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,455 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20080637.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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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