Service connection for pituitary macroadenoma and bilateral hearing loss is granted.,An effective date prior to June 12, 2018, for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for lupus (claimed as due to herbicide exposure) and obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.
The deciding factor: Pituitary macroadenoma originated during active service and the Veteran's in-service herbicide agent exposure has been conceded. The medical evidence supports a causal link between the Veteran's pituitary macroadenoma and his military service.,The record does not show any claim for an effective date prior to June 12, 2018, for bilateral hearing loss received by VA prior to that date.,Bilateral hearing loss has been shown to be manifested by no more than Level II auditory acuity. The Veteran's contentions regarding the impact of his hearing disability on his activities of daily living are not considered in determining the schedular rating for hearing impairment.,The Veteran reports ongoing symptoms of severe pain in his arms and legs that began soon after service and was diagnosed as lupus in the 1990s. VA treatment records note ongoing treatment and medication management for lupus erythematosus. A VA examination is needed to determine if any identified lupus disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including herbicide exposure.,The Veteran reports that his PTSD may have contributed to the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea but it is not the sole cause of the claimant's diagnosis. A VA examination is needed to determine if any identified recurrent sleep disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, and whether it is due to or the result of the not otherwise specified anxiety disorder and other service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- pituitary macroadenoma, bilateral hearing loss, lupus (claimed as due to herbicide exposure), obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22035965
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 22035965.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
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