The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left upper extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic sinusitis, left great toe ingrown toenail disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board also denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear, and acute intermittent tension.

The deciding factor: The evidence was in approximate balance regarding the Veteran's tinnitus claim, so the benefit of the doubt rule applied. However, there was not enough evidence to support a diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

Claimed conditions

Bilateral tinnitus, Bilateral hearing loss disability, Left upper extremity radiculopathy, Chronic sinusitis, Left great toe ingrown toenail disability, Right knee disability, Left ankle disability, Right ankle disability, Chronic fatigue syndrome

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 3, 2025

Citation

A25085664

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