The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for hearing loss or neurologic residuals of jaw fracture. For scars from concussion with occipital scalp laceration, the Board determined that the criteria for a 30 percent rating were met but not higher, and for painful scars from concussion with occipital scalp laceration, the criteria for a 10 percent rating were met but not higher.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show current hearing loss related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's jaw fracture did not result in any neurologic residuals. For the scars, the VA examiners found that they had characteristics of disfigurement and painfulness, warranting a 30 percent rating for visible or palpable tissue loss with two or three characteristics of disfigurement.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Neurologic Residuals of Maxillary and Mandibular Fractures (Jaw Fracture), Tinnitus, Insomnia, Lichen Planus Skin Disability, Dental Trauma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2016
- Citation
- 1608182
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 1608182.
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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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