The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The claims for service connection for myositis, cervical strain (neck disability), spinal stenosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, sinusitis, COPD, edema, GERD, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and bronchitis have all been denied.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"bilateral hearing loss","claimed_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"myositis (muscle disability)","claimed_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"cervical strain (neck disability)","claimed_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"spinal stenosis","claimed_condition":true,"service_connection_theory":"direct"}, {"condition_name":"left knee degenerative arthritis","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"right knee degenerative arthritis","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"sinusitis","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"hypertensive vascular disease","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"edema","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"paralysis of the median nerve (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve disability)","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"acquired psychiatric disability","claimed_condition":false}, {"condition_name":"bronchitis","claimed_condition":false}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19138894
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 19138894.
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 issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches with an initial rating of 50 percent effective from August 10, 2022, and denied the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disability, low back disability, and erectile dysfunction.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.
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