The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 18, 2018 for tinnitus is denied.,The claims for reopening of service connection for thyroid cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm are granted.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for renal cancer, COPD, back injury with bilateral nerve impairment, acid reflux, IBS, left leg injury/muscle injury, right leg injury/muscle injury, shrapnel wounds on back and legs, disability of the sternum, soft tissue sarcoma, and diabetes mellitus type II are all denied.,Service connection for PTSD is granted from January 18, 2018 to January 10, 2019 with a rating of 70 percent.
The deciding factor: The effective date prior to January 18, 2018 was not received by VA before the initial grant of service connection for tinnitus.,New evidence has been submitted that supports reopening of claims for thyroid cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm.,Right ear hearing loss is shown in service and continues today.,Left ear hearing loss does not meet criteria for service connection as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or otherwise be related to service.,Renal cancer, COPD, back injury with bilateral nerve impairment, acid reflux, IBS, left leg injury/muscle injury, right leg injury/muscle injury, shrapnel wounds on back and legs, disability of the sternum, soft tissue sarcoma, and diabetes mellitus type II are not shown to be related to service.,PTSD is found to meet criteria for a 70 percent rating from January 18, 2018 to January 10, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, thyroid cancer, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, renal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), back injury with bilateral nerve impairment, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left leg injury/muscle injury, right leg injury/muscle injury, shrapnel wounds on back and legs, disability of the sternum, soft tissue sarcoma, diabetes mellitus type II
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2022
- Citation
- 22010886
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 22010886.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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.