The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee arthralgia, and right ankle condition have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been established for VA purposes. An initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee arthralgia, and right ankle condition are related to service, meeting the direct nexus requirement. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during the appeal period for VA purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Right Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Right Knee Arthralgia, Right Ankle Condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 6, 2026
- Citation
- A26011384
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 A26011384.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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