The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are denied as there is no evidence of a link between any claimed conditions and service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the currently diagnosed left ear hearing loss to service or a service-connected disability, including the service-connected residuals of parotidectomy and paralysis of the left facial nerve. The veteran's assertions regarding causation are not probative as he lacks the requisite medical training.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Left Ear Hearing Loss","status":"Present"}, {"condition_name":"Left Eye Disability","status":"Not Established"}, {"condition_name":"Headaches","status":"Not Established"}, {"condition_name":"Speech Impediment","status":"Present (Component of Service-Connected Left Facial Nerve Paralysis)"}, {"condition_name":"Eating Difficulties","status":"Present (Component of Service-Connected Left Facial Nerve Paralysis)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2006
- Citation
- 0602709
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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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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