The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for facial and lip lacerations was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for coronary artery disease status post heart attack is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum under applicable criteria.,Tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.,Bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable and now rated at 10 percent after January 14, 2019.,Low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not provide new or material information that would support reopening the claim for facial and lip lacerations.,Coronary artery disease is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, meeting the criteria for service connection.,PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are within the range of occupational and social impairment already considered under 50 percent.,Tinnitus does not warrant a higher rating as it meets the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260.,Bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable but now rated at 10 percent after January 14, 2019 due to increased severity of symptoms.,Low back disability and right knee disability are rated based on their current manifestations.
- Claimed conditions
- facial and lip lacerations, coronary artery disease status post heart attack, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, spondylosis L5-S1 with spondylolisthesis and vacuum disc phenomena at fifth lumbar-first sacral vertebra (low back disability), right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19174307
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 19174307.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- 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.
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