The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions were related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25056354
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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