The Board granted service connection for L4-L5 spinal fusion, finding the evidence to be in at least approximate balance as to whether it is related to an injury during active military service. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The May 2024 private medical opinion provided the most probative weight, concluding that the Veteran's L4-L5 spinal fusion is more likely than not related to an in-service injury. The April 2024 VA examination did not provide a valid rating due to inconsistent test results.
- Claimed conditions
- L4-L5 spinal fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25037694
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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