The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased the evaluation of the veteran's residuals of shell fragment wound (SFW) of the right hand and arm to 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during combat in Korea, which is accepted as sufficient proof of service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b). His hearing loss is presumed due to this exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, residuals of shell fragment wound (SFW) of the right hand and arm
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 18, 2000
- Citation
- 0004437
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 0004437.
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 withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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