The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss is denied, and a 40 percent disability rating for the neurological disorder of the left upper extremity is granted effective August 24, 2010. The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for back disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss due to the presence of a noncompensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100. The neurological disorder of the left upper extremity is analogous to moderate incomplete paralysis of the upper radicular group in the left upper extremity and therefore warrants a 30 percent disability rating effective August 24, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Neurological Disorder of Left Upper Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18104272
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 18104272.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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.
- 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 service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, and foot conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history throughout the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets VA's criteria for a disability.
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