The Board has determined that the criteria for a permanent combined 60 percent rating are not met, as the veteran's service-connected disabilities may improve with treatment and do not have a static or permanent nature.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show that any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities are static or incapable of material improvement. A reduction in any one of his compensable evaluations would result in a reduction of the combined rating, making it impossible for the combined rating to be permanently fixed at 60 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of right tympanomastoid surgery, postoperative residuals of a septoplasty with rhinitis and sinusitis, hiatal hernia with reflux, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right leg laceration, residues of genital herpes, onychomycosis of the toenails
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2002
- Citation
- 0217383
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 0217383.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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