The Veteran's left ear pain, which first manifested during service in Southwest Asia, is considered a chronic undiagnosed illness and meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence of record established that the Veteran’s left ear pain manifested during active service and was not attributable to any known clinical diagnosis, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear pain
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18105039
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 18105039.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for an ear disability, including bilateral hearing loss and left ear pain, due to a need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bruxism/teeth grinding, allergic rhinitis, bloody stools, dyspnea/trouble breathing, and various musculoskeletal and ear pain issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations and hearings. The Veteran's claim for service connection of left ear pain is pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's hypothyroidism is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Board granted service connection for this condition. Service connection for an ear condition, including bilateral hearing loss and left ear pain, is remanded.
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