The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), and bilateral hearing loss. However, it granted an initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral cataracts.
The deciding factor: The July 2023 VA examination concluded that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis associated with any claimed conditions related to his low back pain, and there is no evidence linking DMII or hearing loss to service. The Board found the medical opinions provided by the examiners to be credible and competent.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back condition, Diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), Bilateral hearing loss, Bilateral cataracts, Tinnitus, Sarcoidosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25024618
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence of a current disability in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the left ear hearing loss and service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service acoustic trauma and a rocket blast injury.
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