Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 15, 2012, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence having been received, the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU is remanded.,Entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a right leg disability is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for bronchitis is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows current tinnitus and in-service noise exposure, which supports the claim of service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss with a noncompensable rating effective August 15, 2012. The earlier effective date is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2002 decision.,New evidence received since the March 2002 decision raises reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for cervical spine disability and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, which were previously denied due to pre-existing conditions not worsened during service.,The claims are remanded as new evidence does not establish clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2002 decision denying service connection for these disabilities.,The claim is remanded as there is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2002 decision denying service connection for these disabilities.,The claims are remanded due to lack of evidence showing a worsening of pre-existing conditions during service.,The claims are remanded as new evidence does not establish clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2002 decision denying service connection for these disabilities.,The claims are remanded as there is no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2002 decision denying service connection for these disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19189235
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (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 19189235.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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