The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown for VA purposes, thus the claim is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has had constant ringing in his ears since then.,The acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) is service-connected as there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, supported by lay testimony.
The deciding factor: Service connection requires medical evidence of a current disability, a link to service, and continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's low back condition did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no established continuity of symptoms. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown for VA purposes. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has had constant ringing in his ears since then. The acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) is service-connected as there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, supported by lay testimony.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disability, Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Acquired psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19133168
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
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