The Veteran's chronic joint disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease are found to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or service-connected tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The May 2016 VHA expert opinion concluded that the Veteran's current diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis and kidney disease are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including a fever of unknown origin during service. The November 2015 VA examiner also found it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's kidney disease was caused by required medications for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, chronic joint disability including rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1632681
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1632681.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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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