The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and increased the rating for postoperative, recurrent, maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis to 10 percent disabling. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of avulsion fracture, left ulna, with traumatic arthritis and bone deformity remains in controversy as it has not been addressed by the RO.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the July 1996 denial was found to be new and material, allowing the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability to be reopened. The Board also determined that there is medical evidence linking the current hearing loss disability to the veteran's period of active service. For the sinusitis claims, the Board found no incapacitating episodes or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year, and thus did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Postoperative, Recurrent, Maxillary and Ethmoid Sinusitis, Residuals of Avulsion Fracture, Left Ulna with Traumatic Arthritis and Bone Deformity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 12, 2000
- Citation
- 0032402
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 0032402.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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