The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent remains pending.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to environmental hazards during service, with a current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss. Degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine were also granted as service-connected based on in-service exposure to cold stress study.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 28, 2014
- Citation
- 1447813
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 1447813.
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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