The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, and bilateral pes planus with bilateral calcaneal spurs contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The Board finds that these conditions alone are sufficient for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, and bilateral pes planus with bilateral calcaneal spurs) contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from blunt impact to the head.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, bilateral pes planus with bilateral calcaneal spurs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- April 18, 2018
- Citation
- 1822762
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 1822762.
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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