The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his previously denied claim. The Veteran had in-service noise exposure and credible reports of hearing problems since service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided sufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology for a chronic disease (sensorineural hearing loss) within one year after service, which is presumed under VA law.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear sensorineural hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20003236
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,858 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20003236.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss have been granted as service-connected. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, including his pancreatic disorders and left ear sensorineural hearing loss disorder. The Veteran is presumed to have service connection for bilateral tinnitus.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed. Service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted, but the claim for right ear sensorineural hearing loss is remanded.
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