The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. Service connection for glaucoma and hypertension were denied as secondary to a service-connected disability, but the claim is pending. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from February 14, 2004, to December 30, 2009, and a rating in excess of 20 percent beginning December 30, 2009.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was linked to service due to acoustic trauma. Service connection for glaucoma and hypertension were denied as secondary to a service-connected disability but the claim is pending. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus required insulin and restricted diet, warranting a 20 percent rating from February 14, 2004, to December 30, 2009, and a higher rating beginning December 30, 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Glaucoma, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2011
- Citation
- 1132979
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 1132979.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- 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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
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