The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection is also granted for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for left ear sensorineural hearing loss as it initially manifested in service. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not considered aggravated by service, and the claim for service connection for this condition remains denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus was not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence to support a finding that it began during service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is also denied.
The deciding factor: New evidence received since the July 2009 rating decision established that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was incurred in service.,The right ear hearing loss did not show an increase in severity during service and there was no medical opinion supporting aggravation of pre-existing right ear hearing loss. The Veteran’s current right ear hearing loss is therefore considered to be a result of natural progression rather than service connection.,Tinnitus was not manifest within one year after separation from service, and the August 2018 VA examiner opined that it is less likely caused by in-service noise exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20039129
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 20039129.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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