The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the current lumbar spine disability was less likely caused by or related to military service due to natural aging and intrinsic disc loading factors.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine (low back)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19129346
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee and neck disabilities, right ankle disability, insomnia, low back disability, penile disability, and sciatica. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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