The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied, while his claim for a higher initial disability rating for the gunshot wound to the back of head is granted with a 10% evaluation. His claim for a separate disability rating for the neck scar is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement for bilateral hearing loss as he had normal hearing in both ears, and his speech recognition scores were above the threshold required by VA regulations. For tinnitus, the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether it was related to service exposure, leading to a grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residual gunshot back of head pellet gun skin/scar wound, right anterior neck status post knife wound
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2021
- Citation
- 21022262
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 21022262.
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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