The claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury is dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, shell fragment wounds, thorax, burn scars of the left hand and arm, and PTSD are all granted with specific ratings.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence provided by VA medical opinions which concluded that there was at least equipoise in determining whether the conditions were related to service. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, shell fragment wounds, thorax, burn scars of the left hand and arm, and PTSD are all granted.
- Claimed conditions
- back injury, bilateral hearing loss, shell fragment wounds, thorax, burn scars of the left hand and arm, PTSD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19101421
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.