The Board found that the Veteran's chronic sinus disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for recurrent left ankle sprain.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence clearly and unmistakably showed that the Veteran's chronic sinus disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder were preexisting conditions that did not worsen during service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for recurrent left ankle sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Sinus Disorder, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Low Back Disorder, Recurrent Left Ankle Sprain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2009
- Citation
- 0933850
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 0933850.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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