The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been reopened, with service connection for both conditions established.,Service connection has also been granted for degenerative joint disease of the back due to his service-connected knee condition. The Veteran is not entitled to a sleep disorder.
The deciding factor: The new evidence shows that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused by in-service exposure to excessive and harmful noise, which established service connection.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran's back pain was likely due to his abnormal gait caused by his knee condition. The private physician's opinion supported this finding.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Degenerative Joint Disease (Traumatic Arthritis) in the Right Knee, Sleep Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1601388
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 1601388.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- 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.
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