The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The Veteran has established a right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, but the Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The absence of in-service evidence of hearing loss is not fatal to a claim for service connection; however, normal in-service hearing tests do not preclude a veteran from establishing entitlement to service connection. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability was established as normal at separation and primarily normal in 2005.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss Disability, Right Ear Hearing Loss Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 11, 2014
- Citation
- 1435715
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 1435715.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS, hypertension, right ear hearing loss disability, and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis have all been denied.,Specifically, the Board found no current diagnosis of IBS during the appeal period. The claim for hypertension was not granted on a presumptive basis as there is no evidence showing it manifested to a degree of 10 percent disabling within one year of separation from service. Service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The increased rating claim for IVDS was withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a right ear hearing loss disability and a left ear hearing loss disability for further development, including obtaining additional VA examination opinions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability.
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