The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain (back pain) based on new evidence, while denying increased ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder and tinnitus. The Board also remanded several other claims for further development.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for PTSD or tinnitus, but readjudication was granted based on new evidence for hypertension and back pain due to their service connection status.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, lumbosacral strain (back pain), posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction disability, right upper extremity disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity disability, to include ulnar nerve impingement and carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracolumbar spine (back pain) disability, right lower extremity disability, to include lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica), left lower extremity disability, to include lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)

How they argued it

Reopened with new and material evidence

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 10, 2025

Citation

A25011943

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