The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus II and bilateral hearing loss have been granted due to exposure to herbicides during service. The claim for diabetes mellitus II is based on the presumption of exposure, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is in equipoise with the evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's exposure to noise during service, particularly as an engineman, could be a contributing factor to his current hearing loss diagnosis. The evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the hearing loss was related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus II, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20002130
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 withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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