The veteran's claim for new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for dental injury due to trauma during service was denied, as well as his claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative spondylosis of the spine, PTSD, cold injuries to both lower extremities, and esophageal motility disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the RO's March 2002 decision did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for dental injury due to trauma during service. The veteran has an exceptional pattern of bilateral hearing loss, but a rating in excess of 40 percent is not warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- dental injury due to trauma during service, degenerative spondylosis of the spine, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of a cold injury to the left lower extremity including the knee, residuals of a cold injury to the right lower extremity including the knee, esophageal motility disorder, sliding-type hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2008
- Citation
- 0816851
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 his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for right inguinal hernia surgery and service connection for a low back disability, as well as remanded the claims for service connection for GERD and entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.
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