The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the threshold for a disability rating. For migraine headaches, he is granted a 30% rating prior to August 30, 2018 and denied any higher rating thereafter. For bilateral plantar fasciitis, he is granted a 30% rating prior to June 2, 2017 and a 50% rating starting from that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the VA definition of disability due to insufficient auditory threshold levels. For migraine headaches, the evidence shows frequent but non-prostrating attacks. For bilateral plantar fasciitis, the evidence prior to June 2, 2017 showed moderate symptoms relieved by orthotics; since then, severe symptoms persisting despite orthotic use.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Migraine Headaches, Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20065998
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,614 · Granted: 35% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20065998.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's 50% disability rating for migraine headaches was restored as the evidence did not show actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing disability for VA purposes, and the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.
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