The Veteran's back disorder, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The back disorder is considered to be directly related to service due to a motor vehicle accident during service. Bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not presumed as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service. Hearing loss is presumed due to acoustic trauma during service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss is presumed due to exposure to noise during service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20037118
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 20037118.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- 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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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