The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residual numbness of the right fifth finger status post fusion surgery, as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating was not ripe at this time due to pending development on other issues.,Service connection was granted for residual numbness of the right fifth finger status post fusion surgery based on continuity of symptomatology since service and credible lay evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations, as there is no current diagnosis. The Board found that his numbness of the right fifth finger was caused or aggravated by surgery he underwent in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Numbness of the right fifth finger status post fusion surgery, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1548517
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 1548517.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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