The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his scar left index finger is currently rated as noncompensable after January 24, 2020.,The Veteran's scar left index finger was previously rated under diagnostic code 7805. After January 24, 2020, it is rated as 10 percent disabling under diagnostic code 7804.,Both ratings are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Veteran's scar left index finger is rated as noncompensable after January 24, 2020, under diagnostic code 7804 because it does not cover at least 144 square inches and there are no indications of instability or pain.,The Veteran's scar left index finger was previously rated under diagnostic code 7805. After January 24, 2020, it is rated as 10 percent disabling under diagnostic code 7804 because the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under diagnostic codes 7801, 7802, or 7805.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Scar Left Index Finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2022
- Citation
- 22030615
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 22030615.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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