The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, but denied increased ratings for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for the left ear hearing loss or PFB, but was at least evenly balanced as to whether the left ankle disability warranted a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear sensorineural hearing loss, Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, left ankle with Achilles enthesopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25028857
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25028857.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of allergic rhinitis. Service connection is granted for a skin disorder (Pseudofolliculitis barbae) and denied for a chronic cervical spine disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ear sensorineural hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition had worsened since his last examination, and he is currently rated at zero percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The claim for a compensable rating for Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. However, the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss (left ear) remains noncompensable.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.