The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, and remanded several other claims related to various conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current disability for VA purposes or that the Veteran's symptoms were severe enough to warrant a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral hearing loss, Status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, Left foot condition as secondary to service-connected status post bunionectomy and hallux rigidus of the left great toe, Lumbar spine disability, Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, Cervical spine disability, Bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, Fatigue, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Right shoulder pain, Sleep apnea, Vertigo
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25089838
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (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 A25089838.
What this means for you
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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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- 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.
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