The Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder with depression and anxiety, right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, bilateral ankle strain, and left foot condition (various diagnoses) have all been granted service connection.,An initial compensable rating for a post appendectomy scar has not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder with depression and anxiety is related to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions, including the various back, neck, knees, hips, and shoulder conditions.,Right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to service exposure to loud noise during active duty.,Bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is linked to injuries sustained during service, such as falling from an aircraft ladder.,Bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia are associated with joint problems experienced in the knees since service.,Bilateral ankle strain is related to various falls and heavy lifting during service.,Left foot conditions (plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, hallux rigidus, claw foot, and heel spurs) are linked to injuries sustained during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Somatic Symptoms Disorder with Depression and Anxiety, Right Ear Hearing Loss, Bilateral Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendonitis, Bilateral Knee Degenerative Arthritis and Chondromalacia, Bilateral Ankle Strain, Left Foot Condition (various diagnoses: plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, hallux rigidus, claw foot, and heel spurs)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22035006
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 22035006.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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