The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a digestive disability other than diverticulosis with lactose intolerance, but granted an initial 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints effective March 22, 2020.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support the presence of a current disability for VA purposes in either ear or a digestive disability other than diverticulosis with lactose intolerance. However, the Veteran's bilateral shin splints manifested painful motion and warranted an initial 10 percent rating effective March 22, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Digestive disability (other than diverticulosis with lactose intolerance), Diverticulosis with lactose intolerance, Bilateral shin splints, Hypertrophic scar, pyogenic granuloma removal, left shoulder, Bilateral plantar fasciitis (secondary to bilateral shin splints), Respiratory disability, Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (secondary to respiratory disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2025
- Citation
- A25009242
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 882 · Granted: 22% (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 A25009242.
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 Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
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