The Veteran's initial schedular rating for tinnitus is denied as it is the highest available.,An extraschedular rating for tinnitus is also denied due to the maximum schedular rating being assigned.,Service connection for hearing loss is not granted because the Veteran does not have hearing impairment for VA purposes.,Effective from November 8, 2012, a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral DDD is granted. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The criteria for a higher schedular or extraschedular rating for tinnitus are not met as it already has the highest available rating.,The Veteran does not have hearing impairment for VA purposes, thus service connection for hearing loss cannot be granted.,For lumbosacral DDD, the evidence shows forward flexion of 35 degrees and other limitations. The April 2013 VA examination is considered factually ascertainable since the claim was filed.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease (DDD), radiculopathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19160017
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,199 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19160017.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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