The claims of service connection for intracranial lipomas and tinnitus, as well as the initial compensable disability ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and right ear hearing loss, are dismissed due to untimely notices of disagreement. The claim of compensation for burn pit exposure is dismissed because it was not a specific disability but rather an indication that more information was needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not file timely notices of disagreement within one year of the December 2014 rating decision, which denied service connection for intracranial lipomas and tinnitus and granted service connection for a TBI with residual headaches, left knee chondromalacia patella, and right ear hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- intracranial lipomas, tinnitus, left knee chondromalacia patella, right ear hearing loss, traumatic brain injury with residual headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26000147
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 A26000147.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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 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.
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