The Veteran's low back disability is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as functional abdominal pain syndrome and IBS) is granted. The Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss disability are also granted service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease were found to be more severe than the assigned 20 percent rating, warranting a higher 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD), Gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as functional abdominal pain syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Hypertension, Left ear hearing loss disability, Headache disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26038781
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 A26038781.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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