The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, and his right knee disability does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. Service connection for blurry vision is precluded by governing regulations.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating due to the veteran's hearing acuity being within normal limits and minimal functional loss in the right knee, with no findings of arthritis or other significant impairment. Blurry vision was determined to be due to myopia and astigmatism, which are not disabilities for VA compensation purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss disability, Right knee disability, Blurry vision
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2008
- Citation
- 0813502
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of jurisdiction.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as the evidence did not support a nexus between the disability and service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
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