The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted and rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10%.,The Veteran's chronic right hand strain status post 5th digit metacarpal fracture is granted but not assigned a compensable rating due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis.,Tinnitus remains at the minimum schedular rating of 10%. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The effective date for service connection of chronic right hand strain status post 5th digit metacarpal fracture is granted but denied, as it predates September 11, 2013.
The deciding factor: Right ear hearing loss was related to military service based on in-service noise exposure and current audiometric findings.,Chronic right hand strain status post 5th digit metacarpal fracture did not meet criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis.,Tinnitus is rated at the minimum schedular rating of 10% as there was no evidence of loss of finger motion or ankylosis in any digits.,The effective date for service connection of chronic right hand strain status post 5th digit metacarpal fracture is denied because it predates September 11, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ear hearing loss, Chronic right hand strain status post 5th digit metacarpal fracture, Left ear hearing loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19109964
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,104 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19109964.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- 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.
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