The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss in the left ear is denied. The Veteran's service-connected right knee mild medial lateral instability and strain are both granted with a maximum rating of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of hearing loss, but the Veteran had symptoms consistent with exposure to noise during service. For his knees, the VA examinations showed functional limitations that warranted a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 (instability) and 5260 (flexion limitation).
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing loss in left ear, Mild medial lateral instability of right knee, Right knee strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18140764
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 18140764.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, while remanding claims for depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, right knee strain, and left knee strain on a direct basis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right foot residuals of hallux valgus, status post-surgery and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder from December 7, 2022. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, facial numbness (Bell's palsy), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right knee strain. The claims for a left knee strain, major depressive disorder with anxious distress, cervical neck strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral foot disability were remanded.
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