Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,An initial 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches are remanded due to lack of recent examination.,The Veteran’s skin disorder (squamous cell carcinoma) is presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the relationship with his claimed cephalgia is unclear. Cervical spondylosis is also remanded for further evaluation.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent from May 7, 2012, for lumbosacral Strain (claimed as low back strain) is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was related to noise exposure during military service.,There were more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.,The VA examiner did not find any cervical spine disorder. The relationship between the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability and his cervical spine disorder is unclear.,The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his chronic sinusitis. The relationship with his presumed skin disorders due to herbicide exposure is unclear.,The Veteran has a presumptive skin disorder due to herbicide exposure, but the relationship with his claimed cephalgia (headaches) is not clear.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, cervical spine disorder (claimed as cervical spondylosis), headaches (claimed as cephalgia), skin disorder (squamous cell carcinoma of the right shin and lichen planus-like keratosis of the right upper arm)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19190052
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 19190052.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum and denied compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, hypothyroidism, and hypertension.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on a finding of etiological relation to in-service noise exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left foot condition, right foot condition, cellulitis, right ear hearing loss, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal of the proposal to reduce a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain was dismissed.
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.