The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied. The initial rating of 10 percent prior to November 12, 2012 for the service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, calcaneal spurring with heel spur syndrome is denied. An increased rating of 30 percent from November 12, 2012 to the effective date of November 12, 2012 for the service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, calcaneal spurring with heel spur syndrome is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability under VA regulations and his claim for service connection for this condition is denied. The criteria for an initial rating greater than 10 percent prior to October 6, 2010 for the service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, calcaneal spurring with heel spur syndrome with right midheel 5cm scar medially and left medial heel scar 1.5 cm are not met or approximated. The criteria for an increased disability rating of 30 percent from October 6, 2010 to November 12, 2012 for the service-connected bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, calcaneal spurring with heel spur syndrome with right midheel 5cm scar medially and left medial heel scar 1.5 cm are met.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ear Hearing Loss, Bilateral Pes Planus, Metatarsalgia, Calcaneal Spurring with Heel Spur Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2014
- Citation
- 1411076
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1411076.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN and right ear hearing loss were granted. A separate 10% rating was granted for painful limitation of flexion in the bilateral knees, while a denial was issued for an increased rating for central serous choretinopathy and for a rating in excess of 10% for bilateral lateral instability.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right knee instability are denied.
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