The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the evaluation of lumbar spine disability to 20 percent, effective March 2000. The claim for GERD was not addressed as it was not part of the original appeal.
The deciding factor: The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service due to credible testimony and medical evidence supporting a nexus between the injury in service and current symptoms. For the lumbar spine disability, the Board applied the old criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome as it was effective prior to September 23, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 13, 2005
- Citation
- 0518899
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 0518899.
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 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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