The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.,For right shoulder disability, the Veteran's current flexion and abduction were found to be within normal limits with no additional loss of range of motion. The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the low back conditions are not related to service, based on the lack of continuity of symptoms and the absence of medical evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.,For right shoulder disability, the Veteran's range of motion was found to be normal with no additional loss upon repetitive use. The examiner noted that the Veteran’s symptoms were more likely due to non-service-connected factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder, Right shoulder disability, Bilateral hearing loss, Right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080543
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20080543.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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