The Board granted service connection for optic nerve drusen and bilateral pes planus (pre-existing condition aggravated by active duty service), but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record is at least evenly balanced to support a finding that the Veteran's optic nerve drusen is secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea, while there was no competent or credible evidence to suggest he has a current disability of hearing loss in either ear for VA rating purposes. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus became permanently aggravated as a result of active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Optic nerve drusen, Bilateral pes planus (pre-existing condition aggravated by active duty service)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25032460
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
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.