The Board granted an effective date of September 3, 2019 for the service connection claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals of left foot surgery, scar of the left foot, painful scar of the left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.
The deciding factor: The Veteran continuously pursued his claims through a phone call in June 2020 and subsequent submission of a VA Form 20-0995 Supplemental Claim Application within one year of the phone call, establishing continuous pursuit under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, residuals, left foot surgery, scar, left foot, painful scar, left foot, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25049839
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 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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