The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, right hip strain (trochanteric bursitis), left hip strain (trochanteric bursitis), and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis was denied as the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it had its onset in service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there was no direct evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service, the Veteran provided credible and competent evidence of a history of symptoms since service. The negative nexus opinions were deemed inadequate due to their speculative nature and lack of consideration of other potential causes for the Veteran's hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Left ankle degenerative arthritis (left ankle disability), Right hip strain, also diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis, Left hip strain, also diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21042066
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 21042066.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
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