The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, left ear hearing loss, hiatal hernia with Barrett's esophagus, and facial and neck scarring. The preponderance of evidence did not support higher ratings under VA rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The veteran’s DM does not require insulin use, his left ear hearing loss is only level I, and he has no significant service-connected disabilities that would warrant separate disability ratings for noncompensable complications of DM. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against higher evaluations based on VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Hiatal Hernia with Barrett's Esophagus, Residuals of Maxilla and Mandible Fractures, Facial and Neck Scarring, Skull Fracture with Multiple Complaints, Including Headaches, Compression Fractures D12 and L1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0606153
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence of the severity required for higher ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating of left ear hearing loss to obtain missing VA audiometric data.
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