The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were granted, with the right shoulder disability being granted direct service connection. The hearing loss claim was denied as not meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain with IVDS, a 10 percent evaluation was granted prior to November 28, 2008, and a 20 percent evaluation thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right shoulder disability was found to be directly related to service without any presumption or secondary connection. The hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For the lumbosacral strain with IVDS, the evidence showed that prior to November 28, 2008, the condition met the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5235-5243. After this date, the Veteran's symptoms warranted a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2010
- Citation
- 1003937
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 1003937.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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