The Board upheld the reduction of the Veteran's hearing loss rating from 100% to 20%, effective August 1, 2017. The decision was based on clear and unmistakable error in the February 2014 grant of a 100% rating due to incorrect application of Table VI instead of Table VIa for speech discrimination scores.
The deciding factor: The RO incorrectly applied statutory or regulatory provisions by calculating the Veteran’s hearing loss rating based on Table VI instead of Table VIa as required by VA regulations, resulting in an erroneous 100% rating. The error was clear and unmistakable and would have resulted in a different decision if not corrected.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 4, 2018
- Citation
- 18101370
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 18101370.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, and foot conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history throughout the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets VA's criteria for a disability.
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