The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to exposure to loud noise during service in Vietnam. Service connection for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) was denied as there is no evidence of chronic BPPV shown within the presumptive period or established continuity of symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss disability is related to exposure to loud noise during service in Vietnam, which is considered a direct relationship without any presumption. The Board found that his separation examination showed normal hearing and there was no evidence of delayed-onset hearing loss. For BPPV, the Board noted that while he reported symptoms since 2014, there was no established continuity of symptomatology within the presumptive period or during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2021
- Citation
- 21063520
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 21063520.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent. A separate 30 percent disability rating for BPPV associated with his hearing loss was granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's BPPV is granted with a separate 10 percent rating from February 5, 2024 to July 15, 2025. From July 15, 2025, the Veteran is entitled to a separate 30 percent rating for dizziness and occasional staggering.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
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