The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, pinched nerve in the back, right hand disability, and right arm, shoulder, and elbow disabilities are denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish current chronic disabilities of either hip or any neurological disability associated with his service-connected low back disability other than left lower extremity radiculopathy, which is already service-connected. The Veteran's right arm, shoulder, and elbow disabilities are also denied as there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 16, 2017
- Citation
- 1752498
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 1752498.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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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