The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral defective hearing, which was previously rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed that the veteran now had a more severe pattern of hearing impairment.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence demonstrated that the veteran's service-connected bilateral defective hearing manifested by an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment with puretone thresholds of at least 55 decibels or more at each of the specified frequencies and an average pure tone threshold of 66 decibels in the right ear and 90 decibels in the left ear.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral defective hearing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2004
- Citation
- 0402711
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,013 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0402711.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and tinnitus, as new and relevant evidence was received.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person throughout the period on appeal, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral defective hearing was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on bilateral defective hearing and left ankle injury residuals, as well as his claims for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance or due to being housebound, and eligibility for a grant for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.
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