The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for TBI and tension headaches are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is also remanded as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on new evidence received since the last denial, which raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for tinnitus. However, further examination and clarification are needed to determine if the Veteran currently has tinnitus and its relationship to service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, traumatic brain injury (TBI), tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23052273
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 23052273.
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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