The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service and are not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is not related to his service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,Prior to April 30, 2019, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was not manifested by more than Level II hearing impairment in either ear. After that date, it was not manifested by more than Level IV hearing impairment in either ear.,Beginning on May 1, 2019, the Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica was manifested by no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the right sciatic nerve.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity sciatica is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, or hearing loss to his service. The Veteran’s right lower extremity sciatica was rated based on its current manifestations.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity sciatica
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19169994
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 19169994.
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 bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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