The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating was reduced from 50% to 40%, effective April 1, 2014. His seborrheic dermatitis rating was also reduced from 30% to 10%, effective April 1, 2014. The reduction in both ratings is considered proper based on the improvement in his hearing and skin conditions as evidenced by VA audiology evaluations conducted in October 2011 and October 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing acuity improved between the June 2011 and October 2013 VA audiology evaluations, resulting in a reduction of his bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 50% to 40%. His seborrheic dermatitis was rated based on the use of topical steroid ointment, which resulted in a clear and unmistakable error as evidenced by the October 2011 decision. The reduction in his seborrheic dermatitis rating is also considered proper.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Seborrheic Dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1455025
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 1455025.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the original decision. The issues are being remanded for further examination and consideration of new evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have these conditions during service, nor can they be presumed to have developed within one year after separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to noise exposure.
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