The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss based on the severity of his symptoms and the results of a controlled Maryland CNC speech discrimination test together with the average hearing threshold level measured by pure tone audiometry tests.
The deciding factor: The most probative evidence of record persuasively weighs against a compensable rating, as the Veteran's hearing acuity was found to be no worse than Level I in both ears.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing loss in the left ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24072972
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.
- Partly granted
The appeal was partially granted, as new and material evidence was found to support the claim for a low back disorder. However, no service connection was established for other conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and found that a compensable rating was not warranted for left ear hearing loss.
- Denied
The veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.