The Veteran's left ear residuals, including left-sided tympanic membrane damage, earaches, and dizzy spells, are found to be the result of a VA audiological examination in January 2012. The Board finds that these residuals were not reasonably foreseeable.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-service existence of the condition or that it was caused by service-connected tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the pressure used during the January 2012 tympanogram did not cause barotrauma, but the Veteran's left ear residuals were still present. The July 2014 private opinion from Dr. Zieno concluded that the hearing tests performed at the January 2012 VA examination caused the Veteran's left ear residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear residuals, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1518214
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 1518214.
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
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