The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Service connection for low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are denied.,Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran experienced symptoms of tinnitus since his separation from service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of a current diagnosis. The low back disability and radiculopathy were not established as incurred during service.,Service connection is denied because there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to the low back disability, and the Veteran's assertions regarding the onset of his symptoms are inconsistent with other medical records.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of radiculopathy in the left lower extremity. The issue is remanded for further development as service connection cannot be established on secondary basis due to lack of service-connected low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22060388
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 22060388.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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