The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle pain, reduced the rating for bilateral hearing loss to zero percent, and denied compensable ratings for chronic sinusitis, bilateral tinea pedis, and hypertension. The claims for IBS, foot pain, hand pain, dry eyes, and increased ratings for knee arthritis were remanded.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or service connection for the denied conditions, and the reduction in hearing loss rating was proper as it did not affect overall compensation.

Claimed conditions

left ankle pain, right ankle pain, bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, bilateral tinea pedis of the feet and nails, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and/or intestinal symptoms, right foot pain disability including bunions and hammertoes, left foot pain disability including bunions and hammertoes, right finger and hand pain, left finger and hand pain, bilateral epiphora (dry eyes), degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right knee

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 2, 2025

Citation

A25000152

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