The Veteran's left wrist strain and right ankle sprain are not rated higher than 10 percent.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied, as the Veteran does not have a present hearing disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,Service connection for right knee strain is remanded due to inadequate opinion from the 2014 VA examination.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is not addressed in this decision.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left wrist and right ankle conditions do not meet criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran does not have a present hearing disability for VA purposes, as his audiometric results did not meet the threshold for a hearing loss disability.,The 2014 VA examination found insufficient medical evidence to establish service connection for lumbosacral strain due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's pre-service condition and injury history.,The 2014 VA examination provided an inadequate opinion regarding right knee strain, failing to consider whether the current symptoms are related to a service-connected disability or if they have been aggravated by such.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is not addressed in this decision.
- Claimed conditions
- left wrist strain, right ankle sprain, left ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2024
- Citation
- 24012312
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 24012312.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for onychomycosis was denied as the condition did not require treatment and covered less than 5% of his body. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to service. The decision was made after considering both lay and medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
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