The veteran's left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service and is now considered a disability. A current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been established, and it is as likely as not related to findings during his second period of active duty.
The deciding factor: Left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service, meeting VA disability criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- sensorineural hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- October 4, 2000
- Citation
- 0026563
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 0026563.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to the need for a medical nexus opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the presence of a nonservice-connected left ear, and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence provided.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to their death.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for initial compensable rating for sensorineural hearing loss and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), coronary heart disease, hypertension, left and right sciatic radulopathy pain and hypoesthesia of the lower extremities, and restless leg syndrome, left and right legs.
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