The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes.,Affording the Veteran the benefit of doubt, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is granted.,The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied, and a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied.

The deciding factor: The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding a higher rating for tinnitus, leading to its dismissal.,There was no evidence showing hearing loss for VA purposes, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was granted based on the benefit of doubt due to the Veteran's testimony and medical records indicating a relationship between service and an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder).,The current rating of 10 percent is appropriate as there is no evidence showing more than limited flexion in the right knee.,A separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted based on the Veteran's testimony and medical records indicating instability.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence showing unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome.,The Veteran's sciatic radulopathy manifestations are each rated at 10 percent based on the criteria provided in VA regulations.,A higher rating for service-connected left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied due to lack of evidence showing more severe symptoms.

Claimed conditions

tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, right knee strain with limitation of flexion, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

January 7, 2026

Citation

A26001328

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 A26001328.