The Board has dismissed the appeal for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no evidence that his condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6513. His claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, right foot (fracture repair, second metatarsal) with plantar fasciitis is denied as there is no evidence that his condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5284 and 5003.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. His sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6513. The Board finds that his condition does not warrant an increase to a higher rating due to lack of evidence of constant or near-constant symptoms requiring antibiotic treatment more than three times per year. His degenerative joint disease of the right foot with plantar fasciitis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, which is also the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Codes 5284 and 5003.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Sinusitis with Allergic Rhinitis, Degenerative Joint Disease, Right Foot (Fracture Repair, Second Metatarsal)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2001
- Citation
- 0117208
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 0117208.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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