The Veteran's low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss are currently rated as 10 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.,Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches secondary to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was not granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show the presence of intervertebral disc syndrome or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's radiculopathy symptoms were considered mild.,There is no current diagnosis of TBI, and the Veteran’s headaches are not etiologically related to service. His acquired psychiatric disorder was also not found to be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Bilateral hearing loss, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Migraine headaches, Acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19165138
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 19165138.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 31, 2012, for TDIU and October 22, 2012, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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