The Board granted service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The decision also remanded issues related to the Veteran's back and left shoulder disabilities.

The deciding factor: The Board granted service connection based on secondary causation by the Veteran's service-connected back disability; denied a compensable rating due to the severity of hearing loss as measured by audiometric testing; and denied an increased rating for tinnitus because it is rated at the maximum schedular level under applicable criteria.

Claimed conditions

right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left shoulder degenerative joint disease (backed by service-connected back disability), lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and degenerative joint disease (backed by service-connected back disability)

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

February 7, 2025

Citation

A25011870

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