The Veteran's dysthymic disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. Hypertension is also granted as a direct result of service.,Service connection for dysthymic disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and tinnitus has been established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs show complaints of back pain during active duty. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current disability in service but acknowledged that the Veteran had chronic low back pain since discharge. Multiple positive nexus opinions from private physicians support this finding, linking the current disabilities to service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Dysthymic Disorder","diagnosis_date":null,"discharge_date":null}, {"condition_name":"Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine","diagnosis_date":"2003","discharge_date":null}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus","diagnosis_date":"2016","discharge_date":null}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension","diagnosis_date":"1995","discharge_date":null}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20074343
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.
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- Granted
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