The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, and bilateral tinnitus has been granted service connection. Service connection for erectile dysfunction and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) have also been established.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the findings that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease warranted a 20 percent rating based on forward flexion limited to 60 degrees, pain, tenderness, and mild neurological impairment of the lower extremities bilaterally. Bilateral tinnitus was found to be service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Bilateral tinnitus, Erectile dysfunction, Psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 29, 2010
- Citation
- 1015703
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 1015703.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress, alcohol use disorder, tension headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and erectile dysfunction, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 29, 2019 for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart disability, granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right knee osteochondritis dissecans, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear s/p ACL reconstruction, and denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 5, 2018, for the award of service connection for PTSD and denied earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction, left ear hearing loss, migraines, and other conditions.
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