The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had good cause to not timely file a notice of disagreement, and thus the claim remained pending as the time limit to submit a notice of disagreement was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on continuity of symptomatology. For the right hip disability issue, the Board found that an adequate medical opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (likelihood is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal) that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to, at least in part, by his service-connected disabilities, to include his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had good cause for not timely filing a notice of disagreement, which extended the time limit to submit a notice of disagreement. Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptomatology as an 'organic disease of the nervous system'. For the right hip disability issue, the Board determined that an adequate medical opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (likelihood is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal) that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, right hip disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24074097
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24074097.
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.
- 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.