The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and hearing loss disabilities in both ears. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than an unspecified adjustment disorder was granted service connection with a 50% evaluation effective March 18, 2024.,Service connection for sinusitis and syncope were also denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the current diagnoses of left ankle degenerative arthritis and right ankle equinus were less likely than not incurred in or caused by service. The Board concluded that there was no chronicity during service or after service, and thus presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) is not warranted for these disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle disability, Right ankle disability, Left ear hearing loss disability, Right ear hearing loss disability, Acquired psychiatric disorder other than an unspecified adjustment disorder, Sinusitis, Syncope
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011959
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 A26011959.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 10, 1997, for a 10% disability rating for his right ankle disability is denied as there was no CUE in the previous decisions.
- Granted
The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for left ankle disability residuals, finding that his current condition is due to an in-service injury and granting the benefit of the doubt.
- Granted
The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis as of February 19, 2021, based on the number and duration of incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
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