The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right great toe arthritis, left humerus fracture residuals, dental trauma to teeth numbers 7, 8, and 9, right hand and left hand arthritis, right ankle and left ankle arthritis, left thumb arthritis, and right and left knee arthritis. The appeal is based on the merits of these conditions without any presumption or new evidence.
The deciding factor: The disability ratings for all service-connected disabilities were found to be inadequate as they did not meet the criteria established by the VA Rating Schedule.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Degenerative Joint Disease of Right Great Toe, Left Humerus Fracture Residuals, Dental Trauma to Teeth Numbers 7, 8, and 9, Right Hand Disability (Arthritis), Left Hand Disability (Arthritis), Right Ankle Disability (Arthritis), Left Ankle Disability (Arthritis), Left Thumb Disability (Arthritis), Right Knee (Leg) Disability (Arthritis), Left Knee (Leg) Disability (Arthritis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2011
- Citation
- 1130618
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 1130618.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinion in the original decision. The issues are being remanded for further examination and consideration of new evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have these conditions during service, nor can they be presumed to have developed within one year after separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus were denied as there is no credible evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to noise exposure.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.