The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The effective date prior to November 18, 2015, for service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral arthritis and chondromalacia patella is denied.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and thoracic cord injury at T11 to T12 with radiculopathy is granted.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle is granted.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus prior to issuance of a statement of the case and substantive appeal.,No new and material evidence was received as to the previously denied claim for right ear hearing loss within one year of the February 1986 rating decision.,The earliest communication from the Veteran that could reasonably be construed as a request for service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral arthritis and chondromalacia patella was received on November 18, 2015.,The evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and thoracic cord injury at T11 to T12 with radiculopathy is related to his active service.,The evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left ankle is related to his active service.,The evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is related to his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left knee strain with patellofemoral arthritis and chondromalacia patella, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2023
- Citation
- 23060609
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 23060609.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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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