The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a left hand injury. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to loud noise during combat in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to significant acoustic trauma during active service in the Republic of Vietnam, which is considered presumptive under VA law for hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a left hand (minor) dorsum injury with associated scar and partial amputation of the left third finger distal phalanx
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- July 12, 2017
- Citation
- 1726709
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 1726709.
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.
- 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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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