Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability.,Service connection is granted for posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse disorder.,The claim for service connection for right facial Bell's Palsy is remanded.,The claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded.
The deciding factor: Hearing loss was related to noise exposure during active service, and the Veteran has a current hearing loss disability that is at least as likely as not due to such exposure.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain are related to service based on in-service complaints and repetitive trauma from heavy lifting and moving equipment.,PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder was established based on credible in-service stressors, and the Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with PTSD. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service due to his reported history of neck pain during service.,The VA examiner found no current cranial nerve involvement upon examination, rendering the opinion internally inconsistent and inadequate.,The VA examiner did not provide an adequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain), posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2021
- Citation
- A21019161
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 A21019161.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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