The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders were denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) was previously denied, but the appeal is granted as her symptoms are related to active-duty service.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for low back and neck disorders. The Veteran's symptoms have not been linked to in-service events or conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) is related to her active-duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disorder, Neck Disorder, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder), Menstrual Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Bilateral Upper Extremity Neuropathy and/or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Bilateral Lower Extremity Neuropathy, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), Alopecia, Arthritis, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23020452
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 23020452.
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 bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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