The Board has granted service connection for chronic left hip strain and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a left inguinal hernia, initial ratings for GERD and varicocele. The appellant's current conditions are rated at the minimum levels allowed by VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports the grant of service connection for chronic left hip strain as either in-service or secondary to service-connected low back disability. Tinnitus is rated based on its symptomatology, which aligns with a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6260. GERD and varicocele are not shown to meet criteria warranting higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- left hip strain, inguinal hernia, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left varicocele
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 20, 2003
- Citation
- 0303008
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 0303008.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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