The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were granted by a subsequent rating decision. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of larynx cancer with swallowing difficulty, hoarseness and dry mouth (rated as stricture of the esophagus) is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims have been resolved in favor of him due to the grant of service connection by a subsequent rating decision. The claim for an increased rating remains pending and requires further examination and consideration.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of larynx cancer with swallowing difficulty, hoarseness and dry mouth (rated as stricture of the esophagus)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19196586
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (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 19196586.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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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