The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, and pes planus were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence/aggravation that would support these claims.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing the presence of any current hearing loss, headache, rheumatoid arthritis, or pes planus disabilities, nor is there any credible lay evidence supporting such diagnoses. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate any complaints or findings related to these conditions during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss Disability, Headache Disorder, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pes Planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2012
- Citation
- 1202475
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 1202475.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied as the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Headache Disorder due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment, and the absence of a causal relationship between these conditions and service. The claim for Headache Disorder is remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 30 percent, the highest rating available for unilateral pes planus.
- Granted
An effective date of April 11, 2022, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for a headache disorder is granted. A 30 percent rating, but no more, for a headache disorder is granted.
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