The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, tinnitus, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's asbestosis is presumed to be related to in-service asbestos exposure. His tinnitus is presumed to have started during service. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown within one year of service and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began or was caused by service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's asbestosis is linked to his in-service asbestos exposure, while tinnitus is presumed to have started during service. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet VA compensation criteria at separation and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began or was caused by service.
- Claimed conditions
- asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- A19002580
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19002580.
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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