The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left long finger fracture and hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of worsening or significant impact on daily life that would warrant an increase in the disability ratings, and the current ratings accurately reflected the severity of the disabilities based on the applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a fracture to the left long (middle) finger, Hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2008
- Citation
- 0815590
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claims for hearing loss, right index finger disability, low back disability, left and right hip disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities to provide the Veteran with proper notice of his right to a hearing before the AOJ.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to obtain an opinion as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC, given that he has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform certain ADLs.
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