The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, bilateral hearing loss preexisting service but aggravated by noise exposure during service, and tinnitus likely due to his hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's anxiety disorder was incurred in or due to his combat service and fear of hostile military activity. Bilateral hearing loss was found to have preexisted service but was aggravated by noise exposure during service. Tinnitus was attributed to the Veteran's hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23064795
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 23064795.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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