The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to an inadequate VA examination opinion. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new addendum opinion from a qualified medical specialist regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus occurred in or is otherwise etiologically related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found the January 2025 VA examination and opinion inadequate due to its failure to consider the Veteran's statements about onset date and because there was no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's tinnitus and military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified medical specialist.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26015722
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 A26015722.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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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