The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. Right ear hearing loss is denied as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss in the right ear during the appeal period. Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted with at least a 20 percent rating from September 28, 2009 to May 23, 2011. Service connection for a back disability is also granted with at least a 10 percent rating from September 28, 2009 to May 23, 2011 and a higher rating of 20 percent after that period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were conceded due to in-service acoustic trauma. Right ear hearing loss was denied as there was no diagnosis during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18143564
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 18143564.
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 a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.