The Board denied increased ratings for left ankle sprain with instability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD, and remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings as they did not result in more severe symptoms or functional impairment than those currently rated.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle sprain with instability, Tinnitus, Bilateral hearing loss, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25051075
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- 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.
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