The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is denied, with no current disability found related to the head injury during service.,The Veteran's disfiguring scars on his forehead are not compensable under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a history of in-service noise exposure and reports hearing problems since service. The VA conceded this exposure, and the Board finds that the Veteran’s statements regarding current symptoms are credible.,While the Veteran reported dizziness and memory loss during service, there is no evidence of chronic residuals from an in-service head injury. The VA examiner found no residual conditions related to a traumatic brain injury.,The scars on the Veteran's forehead do not meet any criteria for compensable ratings under VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of traumatic brain injury (including memory loss and dizziness), disfiguring scars of the forehead
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18145966
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 18145966.
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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