The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with a rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's back disability remains at a 40 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence does not support an increase to higher ratings.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities are each granted initial 20 percent ratings.,Service connection for GAD, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic kidney pain is remanded.,A compensable disability rating (greater than 0 percent) for chronic kidney infections is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the Veteran's reports of an onset of tinnitus in service. The Board found these statements credible and granted service connection based on a finding that tinnitus was present during service.,The evidence does not support an increase to higher ratings for the back disability, as there is no functional impairment comparable to unfavorable ankylosis.,The VA examiner's findings supported the current 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities. The Veteran did not provide additional evidence that would support a higher rating under DC 8526.,Service connection is remanded as there was no new and relevant evidence provided to support these claims, and they are related to other issues already addressed by the Board.,A compensable disability rating for chronic kidney infections is also remanded due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, IVDS, and spondylolisthesis (back disability), radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right lower extremity, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), bilateral hearing loss, chronic kidney pain, chronic kidney infections
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26041008
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 A26041008.
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.
- 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.
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