The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hand disorder, and left ankle disorder have been granted. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered service-connected due to in-service acoustic trauma and continuous symptoms since separation from service. The left hand disorder is also considered service-connected as it is a chronic disease that developed within one year of separation from service. However, the left ankle disorder does not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no in-service incurrence or development of a compensable disability within one year of separation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were granted based on direct service connection due to the presence of current disabilities and established medical nexus between those disabilities and service, with the exception of left ankle disorder which did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hand disorder, left ankle disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19103093
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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