Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back pain with muscle spasm and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, while denying earlier effective dates and higher ratings for tinnitus, and remanding claims for right hand third digit laceration, insomnia disorder, and right knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported a 20 percent rating for low back pain with muscle spasm based on limited forward flexion, and service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service incurrence. The other claims were denied or remanded based on lack of sufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- low back pain with muscle spasm, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hand third digit laceration, insomnia disorder, right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25087644
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.