The Board has determined that the appellant's current hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. Regarding the respiratory disorder claim, an examination is needed to determine if the appellant's conditions are due to service or other factors.
The deciding factor: The appellant's in-service noise exposure is conceded, and there is evidence of current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria. The Board finds that his current hearing loss began during service and grants service connection for this condition. For the respiratory disorder claim, additional medical examination is needed as the PEB findings did not consider all relevant factors.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disorder (COPD, shortness of breath, emphysema, asthma, pulmonary artery hypertension, asbestosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2009
- Citation
- 0935074
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 0935074.
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 Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate examination and reasoning.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to errors in providing notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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