The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, post-operative residuals of cervical spine surgery, L5 bilateral spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis, moderate-severe foraminal stenosis, left hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, pes planus, and type II diabetes mellitus. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, neurological disabilities of the upper extremities, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and pes planus had their onset during service based on credible reports of in-service noise exposure, heavy lifting, and playing basketball. Type II diabetes mellitus was granted under the PACT Act due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, post-operative residuals of cervical spine surgery, L5 bilateral spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis, moderate-severe foraminal stenosis, left hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, pes planus, type II diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25048196
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 696 · Granted: 63% (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 A25048196.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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