The Veteran's claim for service connection and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, as well as claims for other conditions, were granted. However, the effective date is set at September 13, 2022, and no higher rating or additional benefits are awarded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim was based on a pre-existing condition that did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence indicating it was incurred in service. The effective date is set at the earliest date of receipt of the Intent to File a Claim, which was September 13, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, hypertension, jock itch, scars, penile condition, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26016048
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 A26016048.
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 Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
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