The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is granted, but a higher rating for the condition is denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and sleep disorder are not shown to be related to service. Service connection for right leg disorder, left leg disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder is denied. Service connection for hypertension is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus was found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus itself, resulting in a grant of service connection for the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18151096
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 18151096.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
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