The Veteran's service-connected bilateral mixed hearing loss was not shown to warrant a compensable rating, as it did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation based on auditory acuity or speech discrimination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral otosclerosis resulted in significant but non-compensable conductive hearing loss that did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral mixed hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- April 21, 2009
- Citation
- 0914940
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 0914940.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and evaluation, including a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral mixed hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's vertigo is secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion on this issue.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral mixed hearing loss at the March 2018 Board hearing.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.