The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, tinnitus, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is found to have been incurred in service due to a pre-existing injury that was aggravated by service. Tinnitus is presumed to be related to noise exposure during service. Hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for a current disability.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of chronic dislocation of joint of shoulder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The left shoulder disability was found to have been incurred in service as it is considered a continuity of symptomatology since service. Tinnitus was presumed to be related to military noise exposure. Hearing loss did not meet the VA criteria for a current disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1802489
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 1802489.
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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