The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to military noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for lumbar spondylosis (claimed as back pain), with the Board noting conflicting medical opinions but finding a nexus based on the Veteran's history of heavy lifting during service.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least evenly balanced regarding whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure.,For lumbar spondylosis, the Board found conflicting medical opinions but concluded that the Veteran's history of heavy lifting during service was causally related to his current disability.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"bilateral hearing loss"}, {"condition_name":"tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"lumbar spondylosis (claimed as back pain)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19190339
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 19190339.
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 Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 20, 2023 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.