The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left sided leg weakness, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to perform activities of daily living without regular aid and attendance from another person. His need for such assistance is due to his severe lower extremity weakness caused by his service-connected degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his degenerative disc disease, severely limit his ability to walk and perform basic activities of daily living without the aid of another person.
- Claimed conditions
- Mood Disorder, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine, Left Sided Leg Weakness, Residuals of Right Wrist Fracture, Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 22, 2013
- Citation
- 1332917
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 1332917.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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