The Board denied all claims, including those for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and organic diseases of the nervous system (other than already service-connected tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss). The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a service-connected disability was also denied. No effective date earlier than May 29, 2013 for SMC benefits is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and no other conditions were found to be related to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and organic diseases of the nervous system (other than already service-connected tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss) have not been diagnosed.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, organic diseases of the nervous system (other than already service-connected tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2017
- Citation
- 1715032
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 1715032.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
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