The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae (claimed as acne vulgaris), dermatitis, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's audiometric testing during service did not reveal any hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (claimed as Acne Vulgaris), Dermatitis, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Knee, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Knee, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Scapho-lunate Widening of the Right Wrist, Status Post Ligament Reconstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2013
- Citation
- 1300156
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 1300156.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective July 15, 2024. The Veteran's GERD remains at a 10% rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to July 29, 2024. The GERD rating remains at 30 percent disabled but no higher.
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