The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 2, 2019 and beginning August 29, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to December 2, 2019 or in excess of 40 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss disability ratings were based on the application of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (rating schedule) and mechanical application of the numeric designations assigned after audiometric evaluations are rendered. The evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20071897
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
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