The appeal for an effective date prior to August 10, 2021, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims for service connection for jungle rot disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has had a disability due to jungle rot or that he has a current left or right ankle disability related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, jungle rot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25030012
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.