The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and earlier effective dates for several service-connected conditions, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss or tinnitus was related to his military service, while there was sufficient evidence to establish service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and earlier effective dates for several other conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Tinnitus, Lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, Bilateral plantar fasciitis, Left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy, femoral nerve, LLE peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, Right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy, femoral nerve, RLE peripheral neuropathy, sciatic nerve, Erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with IVDS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035553
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (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 A25035553.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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