The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right wrist disability (other than CTS) are not service-connected. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his CTS of the left wrist from August 24, 2022, but denied higher ratings for his CTS of the right wrist and PFB.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for hearing loss or a current diagnosis of a right wrist disability other than CTS. The Veteran's CTS of the left wrist is currently rated at 30 percent from August 24, 2022, but higher ratings are not warranted as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for severe incomplete paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Right Wrist Disability (other than CTS), CTS of the Left Wrist, Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23016406
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 23016406.
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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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