The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that a zero percent evaluation is the highest rating warranted based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed level II hearing loss in the right ear and level I hearing loss in the left ear, which warrant a zero percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss of the right ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- January 26, 2004
- Citation
- 0402491
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 0402491.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep impairment and hearing loss of the right ear, and a 30 percent rating for residuals of a left eye injury from April 27, 1998. The claim for a higher rating was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus, but denied it for the left ear.
- Dismissed
All appeals for service connection and rating reduction were dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.
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