The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, while the other claims were remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has had tinnitus during the appeal period and that it is related to active service. The other claims require additional medical evidence or verification of stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2024
- Citation
- 24003963
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.
- 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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
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