Service connection for low back disability is granted. An effective date prior to August 20, 2024, for the award of an increased 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Entitlement to initial compensable rating for COPD is denied. Service connection for OSA is remanded.,The Veteran's low back disability had its onset during active duty and was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that the criteria for each disability rating were met is August 20, 2024. The increase in disability occurred after the claim was filed.,Service connection for low back disability is established via competent and credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disability, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017295
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 A26017295.
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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