The Board granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss beginning September 30, 2002. The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary/lung disease, low blood sugar, and chronic atrial fibrillation were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Service connection was also denied for a nervous disorder.
The deciding factor: The VA audiological examination showed that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss met the criteria for a higher initial rating of 30 percent beginning September 30, 2002. For chronic obstructive pulmonary/lung disease, low blood sugar, and chronic atrial fibrillation, there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Service connection was also denied for a nervous disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary/lung disease, low blood sugar, chronic atrial fibrillation, nervous disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 21, 2006
- Citation
- 0621487
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0621487.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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