The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for lumbar spine disability. Bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations, as evidenced by in-service records showing the Veteran had high frequency bilateral hearing loss prior to separation from active service. The Board found reasonable doubt regarding whether the current disability of lumbar spine disability was incurred during service due to flight deck duties and back pain noted in service treatment records.
The deciding factor: The January 2021 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including thoracolumbar spondylosis/degenerative changes, was less likely than not the result of an in-service disease or injury, to include his flight deck duties and back pain noted in service treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21022856
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 21022856.
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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