The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for duodenal ulcer, residuals of gallbladder removal surgery, hypertension, sinus condition, headache condition, skin condition, and stomach condition other than duodenal ulcer associated with nervousness were denied. The claims for hypertension, sinus condition, headache condition, and stomach condition are being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was at least as likely as not attributable to in-service noise exposure, while the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of duodenal ulcer, residuals of gallbladder removal surgery, hypertension, sinus condition, headache condition, or skin condition. The stomach condition claim is being remanded for further development.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, duodenal ulcer, residuals of gallbladder removal surgery, hypertension, sinus condition, headache condition, skin condition, stomach condition other than duodenal ulcer associated with nervousness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2022
- Citation
- 22001346
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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