The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and valvular heart disease, as they require further development due to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during military service.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the mechanical application of the rating schedule to the audiometric test results, which did not meet the threshold for a compensable rating. For the remanded claims, a TERA opinion is required as per the PACT Act due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and JP 8.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, valvular heart disease (claimed as aortic valve disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25088383
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