The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right ankle strain and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for the right ankle disability or establish service connection for the bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed limited range of motion in the right ankle, but no ankylosis or degenerative joint disease. For bilateral hearing loss, there was no competent evidence of current bilateral hearing loss within one year after discharge from service and no nexus to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Strain, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2012
- Citation
- 1222371
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 1222371.
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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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