The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left hand disability, and left wrist disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or arthritis, and the medical evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs do not show any complaints or treatment for hearing loss or arthritis, and his post-service records also lack such findings. The April 2001 VA audiological examination found no hearing loss within normal limits, and the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD), Left Hand Disability (status-post dislocated fracture of carpal and metacarpal joints of the thumb, index, middle, ring, and small fingers), Left Wrist Disability (limitation of motion due to residuals of hand injury with arthritis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0940649
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0940649.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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