The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for bilateral defective hearing is granted, as his current hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for chronic respiratory disabilities including COPD and emphysema, alleged as secondary to asbestos exposure, remains pending.
The deciding factor: The VA audiologist concluded that the veteran's high frequency sensorineural hearing loss was as likely as not due to his inservice noise exposure while in the Navy. The Board found this evidence at least in equipoise and granted service connection for bilateral defective hearing.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral defective hearing, chronic respiratory disabilities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2005
- Citation
- 0517521
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 0517521.
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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