The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected due to arthritis manifesting within one year of separation. The bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into service and did not worsen during active duty, meeting presumptive criteria for service connection.
The deciding factor: Service connection granted based on direct evidence of a current disability (arthritis) that manifested within one year of separation and is presumed to have been incurred in service due to the Veteran's period of active duty. Bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into service and did not worsen during service, meeting presumptive criteria for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 27, 2010
- Citation
- 1036561
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 1036561.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
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