The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. Service connection was also granted for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran did not have service-connected right hand cellulitis or low back disability. A 10 percent rating was assigned for bilateral foot disability.
The deciding factor: The new evidence showed current hearing impairment in the left ear that met VA criteria for a disability. Service connection was granted based on direct service connection due to noise exposure during and after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Cellulitis of the Right Hand (Right Hand Condition), Low Back Disability (Residuals of Transverse Fracture of L4 Vertebra and Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease), Right Knee Disability (Chondromalacia and/or Bursitis), Left Lower Extremity Condition, Right Lower Extremity Condition, Bilateral Ankle Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2011
- Citation
- 1114044
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 1114044.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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