The Board denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, dismissed claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and depression due to improper claims processing, and remanded claims for service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The July 2021 VA examination was inadequate in its failure to provide a rationale for the conclusion that the left ankle injury resolved in service and so was not related to the Veteran's current left ankle disability. A remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a VA medical opinion to cure the defects prior to adjudicating the claim on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear hearing loss, Anxiety disorder, Depression disorder, Left ankle disability, Right ankle disability, Right ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25046989
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a right ankle disorder. Other claims were denied or remanded.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, asthma/lung disease, vision disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, leukocytosis, kidney disease/kidney stones, enlarged prostate, sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 5, 2018, for the award of service connection for PTSD and denied earlier effective dates for erectile dysfunction, left ear hearing loss, migraines, and other conditions.
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