Service connection is granted for tinnitus, as it was incurred during service due to exposure to loud noise.,Service connection is denied for left knee patella tendon tear (status post repair), as the current condition did not have its onset during a period of honorable service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma in service, which led to chronic tinnitus symptoms that are presumed to be incurred due to service exposure. The May 2019 VA examination report supports this finding.,Service treatment records do not reflect any complaints or diagnoses of left knee patella tendon tear during the period of honorable service. The Veteran's current condition is attributed to a specific injury sustained while playing volleyball, which occurred outside of active service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, left knee patella tendon tear (status post repair), right elbow lateral epicondylitis, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right fifth finger dislocation, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction, unspecified anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- March 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26018770
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 A26018770.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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