The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during combat operations.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and its secondary effects on peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted. The eye disability is also linked to diabetes mellitus.
The deciding factor: The Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and provided credible testimony about hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. His VA audiology examinations confirmed current bilateral hearing loss, which was presumed incurred in service.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II is service-connected as it is a disease that can be linked to herbicide agent exposure (Agent Orange). The peripheral neuropathy and eye disability are secondary to diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, Type II, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, a bilateral eye disability (including senile macular degeneration, ocular hypertension, dry eye syndrome, cataracts and pseudophakia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21023605
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 21023605.
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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