The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability and granted a 10 percent rating for right finger/hand disability. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is no longer before the Board as they were previously granted. The TDIU claim remains pending.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted that established the Veteran's low back disability, which reopened his previous denied claim. His right finger/hand disability met the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5229.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with epidural lipomatosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23041572
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 23041572.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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