The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,An increased rating for PFB residuals (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is remanded, as new examination findings may be necessary given changes in VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are causally related to service due to the evidence of continuity of symptomatology and credible statements from the Veteran regarding his exposure to noise during service. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy as there is no competent evidence associating these conditions with service or another service-connected disability.,The Board noted that VA's duty to obtain medical examination or opinion has not been triggered due to lack of evidence suggesting the onset of diabetes mellitus and/or diabetic neuropathy in service. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PFB residuals is remanded as new examination findings may be necessary given changes in VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities, Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19161399
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19161399.
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 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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