The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The rating for right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable. From September 1, 2015 and prior to May 17, 2019, a rating in excess of 30 percent for the right knee disability is denied. From May 17, 2019 until present, a rating in excess of 60 percent for the right knee disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to be causally related to his military service exposure to noise trauma. The right knee disability, however, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating and remained at 30 percent from September 1, 2015 until May 17, 2019. From that date forward, it was found to warrant a higher rating of 60 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss, Right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066386
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,506 · Granted: 43% (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 20066386.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of right knee strain is related to his military service.
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