The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus has been granted with a 10% evaluation, and he is also entitled to separate evaluations of 10% each for his inguinal hernia and the scar from his inguinal hernia surgery. The Veteran's service connection claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (scarring) has been granted with a 30% evaluation based on disfigurement of the face and head.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus is related to military noise exposure, his inguinal hernia is characterized by pain, and he has a scar from his inguinal hernia surgery that is painful. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae (scarring) meets the criteria for disfigurement of the face and head under Diagnostic Code 7800.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of Heat Stroke, Bilateral Vision Loss, Migraine Headaches, Acquired Psychiatric Disability (to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Nerve Damage of the Left Elbow, Nerve Damage of the Left Forearm, Nerve Damage of the Left Wrist, Nerve Damage of the Left, Second Finger, Nerve Damage of the Left, Third Finger, Nerve Damage of the Left Pinky, Nerve Damage of the Left Thumb, Inguinal Hernia, Right Ankle Osteoarthritis, Left Elbow Osteoarthritis, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (Scarring)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 26, 2016
- Citation
- 1616418
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 1616418.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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