The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and a 30 percent rating is assigned for recurrent right ear perforated tympanic membrane and recurrent otitis media and externa. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and status-post myocardial infarction disability is rated at 30 percent prior to May 2, 2017, and denied a higher rating since March 24, 2017. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to be related to in-service noise exposure, resulting in service connection being granted. The right ear perforated tympanic membrane and recurrent otitis media and externa were rated based on the severity of symptoms. The ischemic heart disease disability was rated at 30 percent prior to May 2, 2017, but denied a higher rating since March 24, 2017 due to lack of evidence meeting specific criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss, Right ear perforated tympanic membrane and recurrent otitis media and externa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19127076
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,272 · Granted: 31% (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 19127076.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's liver disability has not resulted in any compensable symptoms, as he had a previous history of liver disease but is currently asymptomatic.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable level due to the absence of more than Level I hearing acuity.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 6, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.
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