The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for residuals of a lower back injury and head condition (presumed traumatic brain injury).,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to direct evidence linking it to military noise exposure. Service connection is denied for residuals of a lower back injury as there was no in-service injury or disease. Service connection is denied for head condition (presumed TBI) as the Veteran's symptoms are not consistent with those arising from service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were directly linked to military service, the Veteran's head condition and lower back injury did not have a clear in-service onset or connection.,For tinnitus, the VA examiner acknowledged noise exposure during service but noted no specific incident. For residuals of a lower back injury, the VA examiner found that while there was chronic pain post-service, it could be due to an MVA rather than service. For head condition (presumed TBI), the VA examiner found the Veteran's symptoms did not align with those expected from such injuries.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, residuals of lower back injury, head condition (presumed traumatic brain injury), left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2024
- Citation
- A24040614
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 A24040614.
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 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.
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.