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Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for an umbilical hernia. The decision found that no evidence contradicted the audiometric readings showing level XI hearing impairment in the left ear and level I hearing impairment in the right ear, which equated to the maximum permitted 10% disability rating.

The deciding factor: The veteran's audiometric results did not support a higher evaluation for his left ear hearing loss or service connection for an umbilical hernia due to lack of supporting medical evidence.

Claimed conditions
left ear hearing loss, umbilical hernia
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
February 20, 2004
Citation
0404855

Veterans Law Judge

MARK F. HALSEY

Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 0404855.

What this means for you

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