The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of such a disability during the applicable period.,For left leg cold injury residuals, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to October 4, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent from October 4, 2012, to December 6, 2014, was denied. The claim for a higher rating after December 6, 2014, was also denied.,For peripheral arterial disease of the left leg as a residual of cold injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have bilateral hearing loss considered to be a disability for VA purposes during any part of the applicable period. The evidence showed arthralgia or other pain, numbness and cold sensitivity as residuals of left leg cold injury prior to October 4, 2012, and from October 4, 2012, to December 6, 2014, with nail abnormalities. However, there was no evidence of Raynaud’s Syndrome, tissue loss, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or X-ray abnormalities that would warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's left leg cold injury residuals did not manifest by more than arthralgia or other pain, numbness or cold sensitivity prior to October 4, 2012. However, from October 4, 2012, to December 6, 2014, there was evidence of nail abnormalities and X-ray abnormality (degenerative joint disease) that warranted a 20 percent evaluation.,For peripheral arterial disease of the left leg as a residual of cold injury, the Veteran's ankle/brachial index was 0.85 in 2009, which did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

Claimed conditions

Bilateral hearing loss, Left leg cold injury residuals (including arthralgia or other pain, numbness and cold sensitivity), Peripheral arterial disease of the left leg as a residual of cold injury

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

November 10, 2020

Citation

20072352

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 20072352.