The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain full-time employment in law enforcement until his retirement. The Board found that the most probative evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected hearing loss alone is not the basis for his unemployability, and he has been able to maintain full-time employment in law enforcement until retirement.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity condition, Residuals of skin cancer, Hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20064537
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities to correct duty-to-assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hand and lower extremity conditions as secondary to hypertension, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and a 70 percent rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claims for hearing loss, right index finger disability, low back disability, left and right hip disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities to provide the Veteran with proper notice of his right to a hearing before the AOJ.
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