The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability but granted service connection for anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (pain with functional loss), OSA, and essential tremors.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders due to traumatic experiences during active service.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss as it was only Level IV in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, which corresponded to a 10 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities were found to be due to traumatic experiences during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss disability, Anxiety disorder, Depressive disorder, Lumbar spine disability (pain with functional loss), Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Essential tremors
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25092573
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (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 A25092573.
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 has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.
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