The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. Initial ratings of 10 percent have been assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve). The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine remains at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented new evidence showing current bilateral hearing loss, which was found to be relevant to his claim. Service connection was granted based on exposure to noise during service and continuous symptoms since then. Initial ratings were assigned based on mild symptoms reported by examiners and the absence of moderate paralysis or ankylosis in the spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Sciatic Nerve), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy (Femoral Nerve), Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 13, 2022
- Citation
- A22025277
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 A22025277.
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 bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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