The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service, given her exposure to barotrauma during service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions support a link between the Veteran's perforated eardrums and conductive hearing loss in service and her current condition.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral perforated eardrums, bilateral conductive hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2010
- Citation
- 1000681
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 1000681.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is not presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the claim for service connection remains remanded. The bilateral perforated eardrums and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The claims include service connection for cardiovascular disease, a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral otitis media, and an increased rating for bilateral conductive hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if he currently has ear disabilities, whether any such disabilities are related to service, and to assign appropriate disability ratings.
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.