The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss is granted.,The claim for sleep apnea is granted. The claim for emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis (due to asbestos exposure) is denied.
The deciding factor: For the issues of service connection, the Board considered evidence including VA examinations and medical opinions, as well as statements from the Veteran regarding his in-service noise exposure and post-service occupational history. For right ear hearing loss, the opinion was that it was more likely due to a civilian accident after service. For left ear hearing loss, the opinion was that it was attributable to military service. For sleep apnea, the opinion was that it was present since service and likely related to in-service noise exposure. For emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis (due to asbestos exposure), the opinion was that these conditions were not caused by or related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183008
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and no competent evidence linking the condition to service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
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