The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is reopened, and he is granted service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.,Service connection is also granted for persistent depressive disorder. The compensable disability rating for otitis externa with excess cerumen production is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination records. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence was submitted, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by service treatment records showing complaints of back pain and MRI findings of degenerative changes in his lumbar spine. His persistent depressive disorder is linked to military service based on medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disorder, degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, persistent depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19193820
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 19193820.
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 was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disorder to obtain additional medical evidence and ensure that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a low back disorder was dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a November 2023 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a low back disorder to obtain additional evidence and an adequate medical opinion in compliance with previous remand instructions.
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