The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The low back disability rating was restored to 40%. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection for tinnitus was established due to in-service noise exposure, while the low back disability rating was restored based on procedural errors. Service connection for the cause of death was denied as there was no evidence linking the Veteran's heart disease to service or a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, chronic spasm and strain with degenerative changes, thoracolumbar spine (low back disability), residuals of a right heel injury, residuals of a fractured proximal phalanx of the right fifth toe
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19165083
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (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 19165083.
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 hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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