The Board granted service connection for headaches, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus. Unstable angina and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) was denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis received a 20% rating from August 28, 2019, to March 16, 2020, and a 40% rating from March 17, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Board granted service connection for the claimed conditions based on credible lay statements and medical evidence supporting an in-service onset of symptoms that continued post-service. The denial was due to insufficient evidence linking the heart condition to service or a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, unstable angina and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease), lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000511
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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