The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee scars, and initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current disability for bilateral hearing loss or that the Veteran's right knee scars were related to his service. For the lumbar spine and sciatic nerve conditions, the evidence showed no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve without moderately severe involvement, and forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was not limited to 30 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, right knee scars, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25054833
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 lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
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