The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on the Veteran's credible report of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.,Service connection for lumbar spine strain was granted effective July 1, 1972 due to VA not properly notifying the Veteran of their November 1972 rating decision denying his claim. The Veteran is also entitled to an increased rating for asthma.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service or related to noise exposure, and there is no current disability.,The Veteran reported in-service noise exposure and has experienced tinnitus since service. The VA examiner found no causal link between his current tinnitus and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Lumbar Spine Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144784
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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