The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for his claimed conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 16, 2005, nor did it meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from that date onwards. The right knee and left knee disabilities were not shown to be related to service, and there was no evidence of a disorder of the fingers of the left hand due to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, disorder of the fingers of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0603421
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
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