The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The other issues have been remanded for further action.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding of in-service acoustic trauma, which is consistent with the Veteran's military occupational specialty and his active service in Vietnam. The Board finds that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the material issue of nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service exposure to noise.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand, carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand, peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, polycythemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1728333
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 1728333.
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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