The Veteran's skin condition started during service and has continued since then. The Board grants service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his time in service, as evidenced by the lack of significant changes in hearing thresholds during service and no treatment records indicating hearing issues until decades after separation from service. Service connection is denied.,Tinnitus was first noted years after service and is linked to the Veteran's BHL. The Board denies service connection for tinnitus.,The Veteran's back condition, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, started in 2013 and is not related to his time in service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Service connection is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the Veteran's claims regarding memory issues and a possible TBI during service.
The deciding factor: The skin condition started during service and has continued since then, meeting the Shedden nexus requirement.,There were no significant changes in hearing thresholds during service and the Veteran was not treated for hearing-related issues until decades after separation from service. The lack of a positive nexus opinion by competent audiological medical professionals supports denial.,Tinnitus is noted to be related to BHL, but as the Veteran is not service connected for BHL, this claim is denied.,The back condition started in 2013 and was not treated during or after service. The lack of a nexus between the condition and service or exposure at Camp Lejeune supports denial.,Service connection cannot be established without evidence linking the psychiatric disorder to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Claimed conditions
- skin condition, bilateral hearing loss (BHL), tinnitus, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2024
- Citation
- 24034093
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 24034093.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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