The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability, right knee arthritis, and lumbosacral strain with spondylosis at L5-S1 are not rated higher than the current 20 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent respectively.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The lumbosacral strain with spondylosis at L5-S1 does not result in ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, and the hearing loss disability is rated based on its severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Knee Disability (Atrophy and Arthritis), Right Knee Arthritis, Lumbosacral Strain with Spondylosis at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2011
- Citation
- 1108127
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 1108127.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to August 12, 2013 was denied as his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from April 1, 2016 was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating of 60 percent for total right knee replacement.
- 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.
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