The Veteran's mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels is granted as service-connected.,His left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are denied as not related to his service.,His depression is granted as service-connected.,His sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,His headaches are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (bilateral feet) and PFB (previously rated noncompensable) are granted with a 30% rating effective June 25, 2012.
The deciding factor: Service connection is established for mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels due to continuity of symptoms since service.,The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, or bilateral foot conditions began during service or are related to in-service events.,Service connection is denied for depression as it is proximately due to tinnitus and sleep apnea.,Service connection is established for sleep apnea based on continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection is established for headaches as they are proximately due to tinnitus and sleep apnea.,Service connection is granted for PFB with a 30% rating effective June 25, 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral foot condition (to include plantar fasciitis), bilateral hearing loss, depression, sleep apnea, headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18152608
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 18152608.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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