The Board has granted service connection for TBI residuals and depression, both secondary to Alzheimer's disease. The low back disability claim was denied, and the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains at a 30 percent rating.,Service connection is established for TBI residuals and depression due to their relationship with Alzheimer's disease.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the diagnosed TBI and depression were caused by the service-connected Alzheimer's disease, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The low back disability was not related to service or any incident therein, as evidenced by the lack of pre-service diagnosis and post-service treatment records indicating onset until after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) residuals, Depression, Low back disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26036425
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26036425.
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 has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
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