The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of hearing loss disability or qualifying exposure to noise trauma. The PRK surgery residuals were rated as 10 percent disabling based on moderate limitation of motion. The left ankle strain was also rated at 10 percent. Environmental allergies did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claims were denied because the evidence did not support the presence of qualifying hearing loss disability, and his PRK surgery residuals and left ankle strain did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing loss, PRK surgery residuals (left eye), Left ankle strain, Environmental allergies
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 24, 2007
- Citation
- 0726559
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 0726559.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to military noise exposure and there is no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and his current condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the hearing loss claim due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected cerumen impaction.
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