The Veteran's TBI is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA criteria.,Left great toe ulcer is not service-connected, as it did not develop from a service-connected condition and there was no good cause for non-attendance at the scheduled examination.,Increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities are denied due to lack of evidence showing worsening since last rating determination.,Increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities are denied due to lack of evidence showing worsening since last rating determination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TBI is supported by service records and outpatient treatment indicating residual effects, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Great Toe Ulcer, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20038354
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 20038354.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- 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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