The Veteran's bilateral metatarsalgia is granted as service-connected, with the condition having its onset during active duty.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot pain symptoms are less likely than not incurred in or caused by his service due to lack of continuity of care and a more likely etiology from post-service work-related activities.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral metatarsalgia, Bilateral hearing loss, Vision pain (diagnosed as bilateral Meibomian gland dysfunction with combined form of age-related cataract)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26008290
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26008290.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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