The Board has denied service connection for a sleep disorder, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability. The claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for tension headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability (claimed as an upper back disability), and neck disability are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the presence of diagnosed sleep disorders or hearing loss disabilities under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Sleep Disorder, Left Ear Hearing Loss Disability, Right Ear Hearing Loss Disability, Thoracolumbar Spine Disability (Upper Back)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2020
- Citation
- A20019529
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 A20019529.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS, hypertension, right ear hearing loss disability, and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis have all been denied.,Specifically, the Board found no current diagnosis of IBS during the appeal period. The claim for hypertension was not granted on a presumptive basis as there is no evidence showing it manifested to a degree of 10 percent disabling within one year of separation from service. Service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and Sleep Disorder due to insufficient development, including a lack of VA examinations or medical opinions assessing these conditions. The RO must provide such assessments.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need additional medical opinions regarding the onset of the Veteran's sleep disability during service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The increased rating claim for IVDS was withdrawn by the Veteran.
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