The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether it is related to active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there was no objective evidence of hearing loss at separation, the Veteran's lay statements and testimony supported a nexus between his current hearing loss and service exposure to noise. The Board also noted conflicting opinions from VA and private audiologists regarding the timing of any potential onset of hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- August 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20052786
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 20052786.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS, hypertension, right ear hearing loss disability, and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis have all been denied.,Specifically, the Board found no current diagnosis of IBS during the appeal period. The claim for hypertension was not granted on a presumptive basis as there is no evidence showing it manifested to a degree of 10 percent disabling within one year of separation from service. Service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were also denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the issue of a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The increased rating claim for IVDS was withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a right ear hearing loss disability and a left ear hearing loss disability for further development, including obtaining additional VA examination opinions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been dismissed.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability.
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