The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for his claimed conditions. The Board also remanded the case for further development regarding an increased disability rating for left inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh and for service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate his claims. The Board found the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to service, but remanded for further development regarding other issues.
- Claimed conditions
- spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity pain, hysterical conversion reaction, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20013428
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 20013428.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathies, and left lower extremity radiculopathy with foot drop. The issues include determining if these conditions are related to service or other factors.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 30, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 1, 2018.
- Granted
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.,Left ear hearing loss is granted, with the condition being service-connected due to exposure during active duty and worsening over time.,Service connection for reflux esophagitis with hiatal hernia is granted based on symptoms that began in-service and continue post-service.,Service connection for stenosis of the cervical spine is granted as it was likely caused by service, including combat duties.,Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted due to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Chronic fatigue syndrome is granted based on symptoms that began in-service and continue post-service.
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