The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or intervertebral disc syndrome. The veteran's hearing loss was not shown to be related to his military service due to the lack of continuity of symptomatology, and tinnitus was also not found to be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2008
- Citation
- 0839264
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 0839264.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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