The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not found to be related to his military service. The issue of a rating in excess of 10% prior to July 20, 2017, and in excess of 20% on and after July 20, 2017 for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis and acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or within the presumptive period after service, and no medical professional has attributed it to in-service noise exposure. The right shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as there are other service-connected disabilities involved.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Right Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18143565
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 18143565.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
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