The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective August 28, 2018, due to clear and unmistakable error in the October 2018 rating decision. Service connection was also granted for major depressive disorder (MDD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the October 2018 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error, and the outcome would have been manifestly different had the correct facts in the record been considered. The evidence supported a direct link between the Veteran's MDD and his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Major depressive disorder (MDD), Vertigo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25109422
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