The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is likely due to noise trauma incurred during military service and grants service connection for this condition. The chronic bronchitis claim is denied as there is no causal link between the Veteran's rare episodes of bronchitis and any remote incident of service. The mechanical low back strain claim is also denied, with no causal link established. Lastly, the PTSD claim is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus could not establish service connection for this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear sensorineural hearing loss, chronic bronchitis (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure), mechanical low back strain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2009
- Citation
- 0941199
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 0941199.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claim of entitlement to TDIU, which is being remanded. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and a higher rating for PTSD are both denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by or secondary to a service-connected disorder, and the Board has granted entitlement to a service-connected burial allowance. However, the appellant's claim for a plot/interment allowance is denied as she did not incur any costs associated with such an interment.
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