The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is service-connected as it was incurred during a period of INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied due to lack of evidence showing onset or continuity of symptoms within one year of separation from service.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records did not show complaints or findings indicative of hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's current conditions are more likely related to his period of INACDUTRA than to active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- multilevel herniated discs and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with sciatica, status post two lumbar discectomies (a back disability), bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2011
- Citation
- 1143311
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 1143311.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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