The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in the left ear, and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating greater than 20 percent prior to June 17, 2010, or greater than 40 percent thereafter for disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records did not show a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during service and no post-service evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria has been provided. The June 2007 VA audiology examination found normal sloping to mild sensorineural hearing loss at 6000-8000 Hertz bilaterally, which does not meet the VA criteria for a hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss, Disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post microdiskectomy, Left lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2014
- Citation
- 1444487
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1444487.
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 Board has granted effective dates of July 10, 2024 for service connection for PTSD, lumbar strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.,Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a service-connected back disability, but denied for right wrist disability.
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