The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain, a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of cholecystectomy, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. A 20 percent rating was granted for laparotomy scars, abdomen.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for ankylosis or its functional equivalent, his cholecystectomy residuals were not severe, and there was no evidence of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. However, the laparotomy scars were found to be painful, warranting a 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain (lumbar spine disability), residuals of cholecystectomy, laparotomy scars, abdomen, bilateral hearing loss, chronic right testicular pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25085705
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (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 A25085705.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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