The claim for service connection for mixed hyperlipidemia was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, anemia, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disability were granted due to in-service noise exposure during combat in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable, but his personnel records confirm he served in a combat zone in Vietnam. His lay statements about noise exposure during service are consistent with the nature of his combat service. The VA examiner did not address the Veteran’s reports of noise exposure and based their opinion solely on the absence of evidence in the record.
- Claimed conditions
- mixed hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss disability, anemia, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, rheumatoid arthritis, psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21013338
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 21013338.
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