The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been reopened, with the Board finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's combat exposure during active duty in Vietnam is accepted as sufficient proof of in-service acoustic trauma.
The deciding factor: The new evidence supports a link between the Veteran’s current disabilities and his service, including his in-service injuries.,Combat exposure provides presumptive service connection for hearing loss due to acoustic trauma. The Board found that the Veteran's combat service is accepted as sufficient proof of in-service acoustic trauma.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine injury with posterior disc protrusion L5-S1, old healed fracture, lateral femoral condyle and tibial condyles of tibia, right knee
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18127655
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 18127655.
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
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.