The Board granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, but remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's account of in-service back pain during his third period of active duty was found credible, and continuity of symptomatology was established. The lack of post-service medical records did not outweigh the Veteran's competent lay statements regarding his ongoing symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 17, 2024
- Citation
- 24002457
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.
- 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 multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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