The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, with the latter granted. The claim for a higher rating for migraines is denied, as is the request to increase the hypertension rating. A 10% disability rating has been granted for COPD. The restoration of the back disability rating from 40% to 10% effective April 1, 2018 was found improper and remanded.
The deciding factor: The claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to new evidence showing a reasonable possibility that it began during service or within one year of separation. The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for disability at the time of the original denial, and no new material evidence has been received since then.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19159534
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 19159534.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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