The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. However, the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss (left ear) remains noncompensable.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the bilateral hearing loss manifested as more than level I hearing impairment at any point during the initial rating period.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear sensorineural hearing loss, Left ear sensorineural hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26031783
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 A26031783.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ear sensorineural hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition had worsened since his last examination, and he is currently rated at zero percent.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with no worse than Level I hearing loss in the right ear.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, but denied increased ratings for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae.
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