The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that his preservice left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no significant progression of the veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss during service and opined that it was not due to any trauma or noise exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2002
- Citation
- 0207447
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 0207447.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma and direct service connection for asthma. The claim for left ear hearing loss was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating of left ear hearing loss to obtain missing VA audiometric data.
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