The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as it was incurred in service due to exposure to noise during deployment.,The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is granted as it is considered a continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: Service connection for the Veteran’s conditions are established based on direct evidence and the presumption that certain chronic diseases manifest within one year of service, with consideration given to the Veteran's credible history of in-service noise exposure and injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss Disability, Thoracic Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19174981
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19174981.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from February 1, 2021 due to continued service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the thoracic spine disability, effective June 24, 2024. The Veteran's disability is currently rated 20 percent under Codes 5010-5235 from June 1, 2008 (the date service connection was awarded) and 40 percent from 5235 from June 24, 2024.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The increased rating claim for IVDS was withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a right ear hearing loss disability and a left ear hearing loss disability for further development, including obtaining additional VA examination opinions.
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