The claim of service connection for residuals of perforated eardrums, claimed as tympanic membrane injury with bilateral hearing loss, is granted. The Veteran's military personnel records reflect a possible tympanic membrane injury in September 1967 during service in Vietnam. However, the record does not contain current evidence of a disability or any opinion regarding a nexus between the current disability and the in-service injury.
The deciding factor: The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim for residuals of perforated eardrums, which is related to his service. The RO attempted to schedule a VA examination but logistical obstacles prevented this from happening. The examiner should determine if any current ear condition noted in the Veteran's prison medical records are related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, perforated eardrums
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19106287
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
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