The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a painful chest scar. The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was found to be aggravated by service. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. An initial 10% rating is assigned for the Veteran's painful chest scar.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise that the preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, and secondary service connection for tinnitus is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The criteria for a 10% rating are met for the Veteran's painful chest scar.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chest scar
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 7, 2018
- Citation
- 1828247
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 1828247.
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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