The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral foot skin disorder (tinea pedis) are granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions, attributing the Veteran’s hearing loss to civilian noise exposure rather than in-service acoustic trauma. For tinnitus, while it was not directly linked to service due to its association with hearing loss, the Veteran's testimony of constant ringing since service supported a grant of service connection. The foot skin disorder claim was granted based on credible evidence showing its onset during service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral foot skin disorder (tinea pedis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18108399
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 18108399.
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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