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 during his Navy service and credible reports of hearing problems since then.
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
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 Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss was granted, while the claims for right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine condition, cervical strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial increased disability evaluation rating of 40 percent for service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic. The other issues were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss due to an unperformed VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and feet and toes were remanded for further development.
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