The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the neck disability is based on the lack of evidence linking it to service, while the hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder was less likely caused by or aggravated by his lumbar condition and more likely due to a 1972 fall during service. The Board also noted that there were no complaints of neck pain until after separation from service, which the Board found inconsistent with the Veteran's statements.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disability, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005836
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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
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