The Veteran's Ischemic Heart Disease is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. For the period prior to August 17, 2022, a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. An increased rating of 30 percent but no higher for bilateral hearing loss is granted effective from August 17, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's Ischemic Heart Disease was found to be associated with herbicide exposure and thus service connection is granted presumptively under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). For the hearing loss claim, the Veteran's increased rating request prior to August 17, 2022, was denied as his hearing did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Heart Disease, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2022
- Citation
- A22024100
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 A22024100.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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