The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected and granted a rating of 10 percent. The veteran's keratitis sicca, characterized by decreased tear production in each eye due to a history of diesel fuel splashing during active service, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6009 for chronic form of keratitis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the veteran's current hearing loss was not likely related to active service and noted significant noise exposure during service. For his keratitis sicca, the VA examiner found no evidence of an intervening post-service cause leading to the condition and concluded that it was at least as likely as not related to diesel fuel burn in 1977.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, keratitis sicca
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2004
- Citation
- 0409757
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 0409757.
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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