Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, but denied for cervical spine DJD, hypertension, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The TBI, equilibrium disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease claims are also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claims were granted based on the presumption of in-service exposure to noise leading to bilateral hearing loss. For other conditions, there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology within one year post-separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, hypertension (HTN), right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), equilibrium disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2018
- Citation
- 18128421
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 18128421.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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