The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastrointestinal disorder (other than IBS) to include as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered aggravated by service, while his left ear hearing loss is deemed a current disability incurred in service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated during service and provided evidence of continuity of symptoms post-service. For the left ear, the audiometric findings showed an increase in hearing loss from service entrance to separation, with no probative value at separation due to lack of examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Gastrointestinal Disorder (other than Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2013
- Citation
- 1324305
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 1324305.
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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