The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 40 percent or more for service-connected bilateral hearing loss since December 3, 2018 is granted. The claim prior to that date remains denied.
The deciding factor: The December 2018 audiometric results showed sufficient hearing impairment to warrant a 40% evaluation, and the Veteran's exceptional pattern of hearing loss under 38 C.F.R. § 4.86 (a) further supports this rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19117852
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,874 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19117852.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 service-connected right vestibular disorder, characterized by hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, is granted a rating of 100 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 100% rating for the Veteran's ear disability encompassing hearing impairment and vertigo, effective April 7, 2021. The separate rating for bilateral hearing loss is discontinued from the same date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's vertigo condition was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 6204 and rated at a 30 percent disability rating effective December 6, 2012. The Veteran experienced dizziness with occasional staggering.
- Whole decision: Denied
The RO denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss in February 2004, and did not receive new and material evidence to reopen this claim.
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