The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection as her auditory thresholds do not exceed the threshold established by applicable laws and regulations for hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of left ankle arthritis and right ankle tendonitis are less likely than not related to her service-connected left knee disability. The Board finds the August 2020 VA examination highly probative in this regard.,Service connection is denied as there is no evidence that the bilateral ankle disorders are due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing acuity exceeds the threshold established by applicable laws and regulations for hearing loss for VA purposes, thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.,The August 2020 VA examiner opined that the bilateral ankle disorders are less likely than not due to or aggravated beyond their natural progression by her service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's history of ankle pain began after her left knee surgery and is attributed to an inflammatory disorder rather than the left knee disability.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not document any ankle injuries, treatment for ankle injuries, or complaints about ankle symptoms. The onset of ankle pain occurred many years after separation from active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Left ankle arthritis, Right ankle tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2023
- Citation
- 23010187
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 23010187.
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Related decisions
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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