The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to noise exposure during military service. Service connection is also granted for bleeding esophageal varices, but not related to the service-connected gastrointestinal reaction. The low back and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected.
The deciding factor: Service records do not show any evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. However, VA examinations indicate current diagnoses that are consistent with noise exposure for hearing loss and tinnitus, and no direct relationship to the service-connected gastrointestinal reaction is established.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bleeding esophageal varices, low back disability, cervical spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 25, 2005
- Citation
- 0528698
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 0528698.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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