The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.,Initial compensable ratings are granted for left and right ankle disabilities, effective prior to January 9, 2023.,A 10 percent evaluation is granted for metatarsalgia and status-post right foot navicular fracture.,Initial 30 percent evaluations are granted for left and right knee disabilities (limitation of flexion).,GERD with hiatal hernia and chronic diarrhea warrant a 30 percent evaluation.,Service connection for TBI is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under VA regulations.,Left and right ankle disabilities are rated based on their specific impairment, with effective dates prior to January 9, 2023.,Metatarsalgia and status-post right foot navicular fracture warrant a 10 percent evaluation.,Left and right knee disabilities (limitation of flexion) each receive a 30 percent rating.,GERD with hiatal hernia and chronic diarrhea are rated based on their specific impairment, as per VA regulations.,Service connection for TBI is not established.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Ankle Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain with Small Plantar Calcaneal Spur and Traumatic Arthritis, Right Ankle Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain with Small Plantar Calcaneal Spur and Traumatic Arthritis, Metatarsalgia and Status-post Right Foot Navicular Fracture, Left Knee Disability (Limitation of Flexion), Right Knee Disability (Limitation of Flexion), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Hiatal Hernia and Chronic Diarrhea, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2024
- Citation
- 24006476
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 24006476.
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.
- 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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