The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear had its onset in service and is related to his active duty noise exposure. However, there is no evidence of worsening hearing loss during service or within one year post-service, nor is there any competent evidence of a current disability for the right ear recognized as a VA disability. Therefore, service connection is granted for the Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear but denied for the right ear.
The deciding factor: The February 2010 VA examiner found no aggravation based solely on service treatment records showing some type of hearing impairment at induction and none at separation. The Board finds that the overall evidence does not clearly and unmistakably establish a pre-existing disability in the left ear, aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss of the Left Ear, Hearing Loss of the Right Ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2014
- Citation
- 1406383
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 1406383.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's COPD is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His hearing loss of the left ear is also rated at non-compensable.,The Veteran has been found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from October 20, 2010 to October 8, 2013 and this TDIU status is granted.,Right knee condition and left ankle condition are remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent since October 15, 2015. His TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment from July 2, 2015.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty.
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