The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 14, 2015 for the 100 percent rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating was denied as his disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent prior to September 14, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence established an increase in severity of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss as of September 14, 2015, supporting a finding that it is at least as likely as not he has had Level XI hearing impairment in both ears since that date. The August 2015 VA examination results were used to determine the rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 14, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19148736
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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