The Veteran's service-connected Achilles tendonitis of the left and right feet have been rated as moderate disabilities, but ratings higher than 10 percent are not warranted due to lack of significant functional impairment.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability. The preponderance of the evidence does not show that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability within one year after separation from service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found the Veteran's Achilles tendonitis to be moderate in severity, with some functional impairment but no significant additional functional loss due to pain or weakness. The criteria for higher ratings under other diagnostic codes were not met.,There is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability in the right ear as defined by VA standards (38 C.F.R. § 3.385). The Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest within one year after separation from service, and there was no direct or presumptive link to service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Left Achilles tendonitis with calcaneal exostosis"}, {"condition_name":"Right Achilles tendonitis with calcaneal exostosis"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19181015
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
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