The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss disability of the right ear and vision disability were denied, while his evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right fibula was maintained at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's hearing loss or vision disability was related to his military service. The limitation in ankle motion due to the fracture was found to be moderate, warranting a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5262.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals, fracture, right distal fibula, with widening of the medial tibiotalar joint, Hearing loss disability of the right ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 16, 2008
- Citation
- 0816193
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 multiple conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain of cervical and cervicothoracic regions, radicular pain and hypoesthesia of left upper extremity, pain and dysfunction of lumbar spine, right sciatic radicular pain, left sciatic radicular pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, post traumatic residual pain of right foot, and bilateral hearing loss.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability of the right ear, finding that it preexisted service and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during any period of service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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