The Veteran's service connection claims for tuberculosis, hepatitis, chronic allergic conjunctivitis of the eyes, sinusitis, and heart murmur were granted. He was also granted a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis. The claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, hemorrhoids, and inguinal hernia with right testicle pain is pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records showed positive PPD (purified protein derivative) tuberculin tests and hepatitis B infection. His heart murmur was found to be related to his service. The VA examiner concluded that the diagnoses of heart murmur and valvular heart disease were clearly erroneous, thus granting service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- tuberculosis, hepatitis, chronic allergic conjunctivitis of the eyes, sinusitis, heart murmur, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, inguinal hernia with right testicle pain
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 4, 2015
- Citation
- 1518997
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 1518997.
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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