The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and for increased ratings for left eye aphakia and chronic bilateral ingrown nails of the great toes and second left toenail with onychomycosis. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and that the veteran's current rating for left eye aphakia is at its maximum level.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, which is required to establish service connection under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Eye Aphakia, Chronic Bilateral Ingrown Nails of Great Toes and Second Left Toenail with Onychomycosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2000
- Citation
- 0005170
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0005170.
What this means for you
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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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