The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome and retrolisthesis L2-L3, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, right knee, lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent), left ankle, right ankle, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), tinea pedis, fallen arches, and left knee instability due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examiner's rationale for denying service connection was inadequate as it relied on the absence of documentation as negative substantive evidence and failed to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and progression of his conditions.

Claimed conditions

bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome and retrolisthesis L2-L3, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic, right knee, lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent), left ankle, right ankle, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), tinea pedis, fallen arches, left knee instability

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 29, 2025

Citation

A25093755

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