The Board has determined that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted prior to April 14, 2009 and since August 3, 2009. A separate 10 percent schedular rating for chronic left ear cholesteatoma and status-post left ear tympanomastoidectomy has been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule due to the exceptional pattern of speech impairment in his left ear, which resulted in a noncompensable rating throughout most of the appeal period. The Board also found that he was entitled to a separate 10 percent schedular rating for chronic left ear cholesteatoma and status-post left ear tympanomastoidectomy.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Cholesteatoma of the Left Ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1640515
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1640515.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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