The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The RO denied an increased rating for his mandibular fracture residuals and paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve, but granted a separate rating for this condition. His depressive disorder was also granted, with no referral to extra-schedular consideration. The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The RO found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in service and granted service connection based on exposure to aircraft noise. For his mandibular fracture residuals, the RO determined that a higher rating was not warranted as he did not have marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization. The paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve was separately rated due to its distinct manifestations from the mandibular fractures. His depressive disorder was granted based on service connection and no referral for extra-schedular consideration was necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Residuals of Bilateral Compound Mandibular Fracture with Loss of All Teeth, Depressive Disorder, not otherwise specified
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2002
- Citation
- 0203701
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 0203701.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the original decision. The issues are being remanded for further examination and consideration of new evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have these conditions during service, nor can they be presumed to have developed within one year after separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to noise exposure.
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