The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and a 20% rating is assigned effective from the date of the decision.,Secondary service connection for GERD and headache disability are both granted. The Veteran's lumbar strain receives a 20% rating effective February 6, 2020, while his cervical strain remains at a 10% rating.,The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated as 20%, with the highest possible rating for this condition.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure. Secondary service connection was established due to existing service-connected conditions and their impact on other disabilities.,The Veteran's GERD is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain, cervical strain, and bilateral knee strain. The headache disability is also secondary to PTSD.,Lumbar strain has been rated at 20% since February 6, 2020, based on the current limitation of motion. Cervical strain remains at a 10% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, GERD, headache disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23060850
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 23060850.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to service connection for a headache disability and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 29, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right tibiofibular ligament strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
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