The Veteran's left leg thrombophlebitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,Service connection for diffuse degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was granted. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence supported a finding that the condition was incurred in service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The symptoms of thrombophlebitis were characterized by intermittent edema and aching in the leg after prolonged standing or walking, which are consistent with the criteria for a 10 percent rating. The RO continued the 10 percent rating as the Veteran's symptoms had not yet become sustained.,The VA examiner found diffuse disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine to be at least as likely as not incurred in service due to a fall during service, and this opinion was considered credible by the Board.,The VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s left ear hearing loss was less likely related to service because there was no significant shift in hearing thresholds beyond normal measurement variability from entrance to separation. However, the Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the condition is etiologically related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- thrombophlebitis, diffuse degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19165135
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 19165135.
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 appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as an addendum opinion is necessary to address evidence of in-service hearing loss and convert audiometric testing results from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss to obtain an adequate VA opinion addressing the hearing loss demonstrated on the September 1968 and July 1974 examination, under both ASA and ISO-ANSI standards.
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