The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is granted as it had its onset during service. The claim for tinnitus is not granted as there is no evidence linking it to service. The rating for shrapnel wound scar on mandible with retained foreign body remains at 10 percent, and the veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are rated noncompensably disabling.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence showed that the veteran had hearing loss as defined by VA standards during service and that his tinnitus began many years after service, making it less likely related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Tinnitus, Hemorrhoids, Shrapnel wound scar on mandible with retained foreign body
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 6, 2006
- Citation
- 0600301
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a right ankle disorder. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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