The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for a bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be due to his active service, while the evidence does not support a finding that his bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder was incurred or aggravated by his service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran had left ear hearing loss for VA purposes at the time of his entrance into active service and during his active duty in Afghanistan. The examiner opined that this hearing loss is as likely as not due to military noise exposure, which supports a finding of service connection. For the bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder, the Board found no evidence of such condition during or immediately after service, with the first objective medical evidence dating back almost six years post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 14, 2022
- Citation
- 22057888
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 22057888.
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 an initial compensable disability rating for onychomycosis was denied as the condition did not require treatment and covered less than 5% of his body. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea, left lower extremity (LLE) sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right ear hearing loss due to untimely filing.,The Board also dismissed the appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss as moot because it was already granted in a prior decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.
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