The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral defective hearing, as the evidence did not support an increase in severity of the disability.
The deciding factor: The veteran had average puretone decibel loss and speech recognition scores that did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral defective hearing
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2008
- Citation
- 0816533
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the veteran's death.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with defective hearing does not warrant a compensable disability rating.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.