The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied it for left ear hearing loss, with an effective date of June 14, 2023, for the award of service connection for tinnitus.

The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on credible lay statements regarding onset during or around the time of service and continuity since that time. The denial was due to a lack of evidence demonstrating a current left ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

Claimed conditions

right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, to include cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, to include lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left hip disorder, to include left hip strain, left knee disorder, to include left knee strain, left ankle disorder, to include left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

December 10, 2025

Citation

A25106773

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