Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for COPD and a compensable disability rating for bilateral inguinal hernia surgical scars.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was aggravated in service, while the evidence against the claim of COPD was more persuasive due to the Veteran's long history of smoking as a risk factor.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Bilateral inguinal hernia surgical scars (hernia scars)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25100823
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