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Partly granted

The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,The appeal for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss was denied.,Service connection for right ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left ear tinnitus is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right ankle disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for back disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for right knee disability secondary to service-connected right foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for left knee disability secondary to service-connected left foot disability is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation.,The evidence does not establish a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation.,Tinnitus is recognized as a chronic disease and can be service connected on the basis of continuity of symptomatology alone, without a medical nexus opinion.,Tinnitus is recognized as a chronic disease and can be service connected on the basis of continuity of symptomatology alone, without a medical nexus opinion.,The Veteran's pes planus was noted at separation and he has reported continuous symptoms since service.,The Veteran's pes planus was noted at separation and he has reported continuous symptoms since service.,The Veteran's right ankle sprain is related to in-service incidents involving falls, basketball, and jogging.,The Veteran's back disability is related to in-service incidents involving marches and boots.,The right knee disability is secondary to the service-connected right foot disability.,The left knee disability is secondary to the service-connected left foot disability.,The acquired psychiatric disorder is secondary to the service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

Claimed conditions
right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right ear tinnitus, left ear tinnitus, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, back disability, right knee disability (secondary to right foot disability), left knee disability (secondary to left foot disability), acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to right and left knee disabilities)
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
December 4, 2025
Citation
A25104766

Veterans Law Judge

Christopher Seppanen

Decisions by this judge: 964 · Granted: 37% (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 A25104766.

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.

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