Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder with anxiety disorder unspecified, and remanded several other issues including the claims for service connection for urinary incontinence, lumbosacral strain, and sciatic nerves.
The deciding factor: The negative VA opinions provided by audiologists were found to be more probative than the positive private opinion due to their detailed rationales and expertise in analyzing noise exposure data. The evidence did not support a nexus between tinnitus and service for the direct service connection theory.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, depressive disorder with anxiety disorder unspecified (herein depressive disorder), urinary incontinence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25090427
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