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
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
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