The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Service connection was also established for major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and trauma-related disorder. The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent from January 24, 2022.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on credible assertions of onset during service and continuity since then, with no intercurrent causes identified.
- Claimed conditions
- Sinus headaches, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Major depressive disorder, Persistent depressive disorder, Trauma-related disorder, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain (back disability), Left knee osteoarthritis (left knee disability), Right knee strain (right knee disability), Left great toe pain, to include osteoarthritis (left great toe disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23024450
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 23024450.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- 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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
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