The Veteran's status post left inguinal hernia repair is rated as noncompensable, with no recurrence of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology from service or in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for broken left leg, left knee replacement, cervical spine condition, and back surgery were all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's right ankle condition with Achilles tendonitis and right foot condition have not been readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
The deciding factor: There was no postoperative recurrence of the left inguinal hernia, thus no basis for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7338.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest in or shortly after service, nor are they related to any in-service noise exposure.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.,New and relevant evidence was not received for the right ankle condition with Achilles tendonitis and right foot condition.
- Claimed conditions
- status post left inguinal hernia repair, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, broken left leg, left knee replacement, cervical spine diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, vertebrae fusion, back surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26005662
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 A26005662.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.