The Veteran's right ear hearing loss meets the criteria for a service-connected disability.,Chronic back pain in service and post-service symptoms support service connection for low back degenerative joint disease.,There is no credible evidence of a traumatic brain injury related to service, nor any current diagnosis. Service connection is denied.,The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea is not related to service.
The deciding factor: Right ear hearing loss was noted in service and has been continuously symptomatic since then, meeting VA compensation criteria for a disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Low back degenerative joint disease, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), Sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 3, 2013
- Citation
- 1317909
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 1317909.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
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