The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an effective date prior to March 30, 2018, for the award of service connection for tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board also denied a compensable rating prior September 13, 2023, and a rating in excess of 10 percent on and after September 13, 2023, for maxillary sinusitis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran had hearing loss meeting the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 during active service or at any time thereafter, and there was no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus could not be earlier than April 12, 2019, as that was when the Veteran formally filed his claim.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, maxillary sinusitis, recurrent right knee disability (patellofemoral syndrome), recurrent left knee disability (patellofemoral syndrome), recurrent right ankle disability, recurrent left ankle disability, recurrent right foot disability (pes planus, calcaneal bone spur), recurrent left foot disability (pes planus, calcaneal bone spur), hypertension, recurrent right lower extremity vascular disability (pulmonary embolism, blood clot residuals), recurrent left lower extremity vascular disability (pulmonary embolism, blood clot residuals), recurrent heart disability, recurrent skin disability (pseudofolliculitis barbae, acne), recurrent headache disability, recurrent vestibular disability (vertigo)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038713
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 918 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25038713.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: 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.
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