The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown for VA purposes, thus the claim is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has had constant ringing in his ears since then.,The acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) is granted as there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, supported by lay testimony.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is granted based on credible supporting evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Acquired psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19133168
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19133168.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
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