The Board denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, granted initial 20 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and remanded claims for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC).
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence of record and applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Lumbar spine degenerative disk disease; levoscoliosis; retrolisthesis; degenerative arthritis; intervertebral disc disease (IVDS), Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25047503
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
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