The Veteran's residuals of a right index finger fracture are currently rated at 10 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to functional impairment that does not equate to amputation.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level I (mild) and does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right index finger fracture residuals do not result in functional impairment equivalent to an amputated finger, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 5153. The current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the disability.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level I (mild) and does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating due to the absence of more than slight impairment in speech discrimination or severe impairment in pure tone thresholds.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a right index finger fracture, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2016
- Citation
- 1612165
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 1612165.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's liver disability has not resulted in any compensable symptoms, as he had a previous history of liver disease but is currently asymptomatic.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated at noncompensable level due to the absence of more than Level I hearing acuity.
- Granted
The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 6, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.
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