The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, neck condition (cervical spine), back condition (cervical spine), left breast condition, muscle atrophy, left foot condition, and right foot condition have been granted. The rating of 20 percent has been restored for the left cervical sensory loss, circumflex nerve.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records indicate a history of neck pain during service, which continued to present post-service. His current symptoms are consistent with his in-service injury and continue to impact his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss, Neck Condition (Cervical Spine), Back Condition (Cervical Spine), Left Breast Condition, Muscle Atrophy, Left Foot Condition, Right Foot Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23067138
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 23067138.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not being granted earlier than November 25, 2019.
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