The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left thumb sprain. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for left knee instability.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record did not support a finding that the Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss met VA criteria for hearing loss, and there was no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes in the lumbar spine. The radiculopathy and knee conditions were rated based on their current severity without meeting the criteria for higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Lumbar Spine Disability (Intervertebral Disc Syndrome with Degenerative Arthritis and Facet Arthropathy with Bulging Discs), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Sciatic Nerve, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy of the Sciatic Nerve, Left Knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Left Knee Instability, Left Thumb Sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052709
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (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 A25052709.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated and denied for increased ratings, with some conditions receiving specific disability ratings. The Veteran is granted a 60% rating for her total right knee replacement from September 4, 2015 onwards, but the other claims are denied.
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