The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and right biceps strain with scar are granted. Service connection for a low back disorder and residuals of TBI are remanded.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be established for the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss due to lack of audiometric evidence meeting VA criteria for hearing loss disability, and no nexus between current hearing loss and service exposure. The Veteran has been diagnosed with tinnitus that began in service and is not related to noise exposure. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) cannot be established as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such a condition.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), right biceps strain with scar, low back disorder, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- October 3, 2018
- Citation
- 18140577
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 18140577.
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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