The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left hands, and sciatica/neuralgia in both lower extremities are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided credible evidence of a current diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder that was incurred during service, resulting in service connection being granted. Bilateral hearing loss was not found to be present or related to service. Peripheral neuropathy and sciatica/neuralgia were also not found to be present or related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Peripheral Neuropathy - Right Hand, Peripheral Neuropathy - Left Hand, Right Lower Extremity Sciatica/Neuralgia, Left Lower Extremity Sciatica/Neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2024
- Citation
- 24015942
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 24015942.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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