The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbosacral strain, and service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current disabilities are related to service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to the current disabilities, and there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- A20015268
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- 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 Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
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