The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and assigned a 10% rating. The Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. Service connection was also denied for left ear disorder (other than hearing loss), anxiety, depression, and sleep disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the right ear hearing loss preexisted service entrance and aggravated during service, warranting service connection. The lumbar spine condition is not service-connected due to lack of in-service injury or disease. Service connection was denied for left ear disorder (other than hearing loss), anxiety, depression, and sleep disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Lumbar spine disorder, Left ear disorder (other than hearing loss)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1620427
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 1620427.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and right ear hearing loss were denied. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection for hypertension was granted in June 2023 based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date is not warranted.
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