The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right little finger disability is denied.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.
The deciding factor: VA audiometric examination findings during the appeal period do not support findings that would warrant more than the assigned zero percent (noncompensable) rating under the DC 6100. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right little finger disability does not warrant a compensable rating based on functional loss of the finger, and there is no persuasive evidence demonstrating total functional loss of the right little finger analogous to amputation. The applicable DCs do not allow for compensable ratings in this case.,There is no evidence of left ear hearing loss during service or within one year after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss, Right Little Finger Disability (Open Reduction Plate and Screw Fixation of Right Hand Little Finger, Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint), Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23054937
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 23054937.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure or other theories.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and is less likely than not caused by noise exposure during his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.
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