The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disorder and otitis media, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for tension headaches. The Board also denied his TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or reopening the previously denied claim of service connection for tension headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-L5 and L5-S1 spondylosis with associated small central herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative disc disease and lumbar myositis, otitis externa and otomycosis, hypertension, psychophysiologic musculoskeletal disorder (claimed as tension headaches), depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2010
- Citation
- 1015557
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 1015557.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma but denied it for hypertension.
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