The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension, while dismissing appeals for compensable ratings for certain surgical scars and maxillary sinusitis. The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for residuals of left varicocelectomy, to include a hydrocele, and other disability ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current disability as defined by VA standards. The reduction in hypertension was found appropriate given the failure to consider relevant regulations at the time of the reduction.
- Claimed conditions
- Nonlinear surgical scar of the abdomen, Linear surgical scars of the thoracic back and abdomen, Maxillary sinusitis, Bilateral hearing loss, Residuals of left varicocelectomy, to include a hydrocele, Limitation of extension associated with a right knee strain, Limitation of extension associated with a left knee strain, Migraine headaches, Hypertension, Erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25054673
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- 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 claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- 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.
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