The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether it began during service and was related to noise exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus and that competent and credible lay evidence indicates it likely began on or around the time of in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prominent, tender tibial tubercles, bilateral knees, sarcoidosis, chronic urticaria, lower back injury, and frequent trouble sleeping are remanded due to missing VA treatment records. Additional development may be necessary including obtaining a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted because the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it began during service and was related to noise exposure.,The claims for service connection are remanded due to missing VA treatment records, which may be pertinent to the Veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, prominent, tender tibial tubercles, bilateral knees, sarcoidosis, urticaria (chronic urticaria), lower back injury, frequent trouble sleeping
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22003277
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 22003277.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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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