Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for a right ankle fracture.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, osteophytosis, and facet hypertrophy, is service-connected as it was caused by his duty specialty of Boatswain Mate.
The deciding factor: Service connection granted based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine due to credible testimony regarding in-service acoustic trauma exposure and post-service tinnitus.,Service connection granted for bilateral hearing loss based on a preponderance of evidence showing a decrease in hearing bilaterally compared to service entrance, with no hearing loss at separation.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle medial malleolus fracture, lumbar spine disorder (including degenerative disc disease, osteophytosis and facet hypertrophy), left knee disorder (contusion, medial collateral ligament strain and pain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20022278
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 20022278.
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'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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