The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and a compensable rating for residuals of gastrocnemius tear, finding that he did not meet the criteria for disability due to impaired hearing or muscle disability.
The deciding factor: The VA audiological examination in February 2003 showed auditory thresholds less than 40 decibels bilaterally, failing to meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss. The veteran's residuals of gastrocnemius tear did not result in a severe, moderately severe, moderate, or slight muscle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- hearing loss, gastrocnemius tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2004
- Citation
- 0412027
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 0412027.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hearing loss, painful scar, patellofemoral pain syndromes of the knees, and other conditions.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left wrist condition was dismissed due to concurrent election of higher-level review. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and for service connection for hearing loss, neck strain, and dermatitis were denied.
- Dismissed
The claims for service connection for hearing loss and a left knee condition were dismissed due to an untimely notice of disagreement filed more than one year after the October 2022 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.
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