The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, as the most recent audiometric testing did not show impairment meeting VA compensation criteria. For the claim involving joint stiffness in the ankles, hips, and elbows, there was insufficient evidence to establish that it is related to service or Gulf War exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be due to his military service as evidenced by normal audiometric results throughout his service and no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria. The joint stiffness claim lacked sufficient medical nexus evidence linking the condition to service or Gulf War exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1734750
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 1734750.
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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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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