The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the hearing loss and tinnitus claims, granted a 20% rating for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities (sciatic nerve), but discontinued separate ratings for femoral nerves due to pyramiding. Service connection was not established for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his hearing loss and tinnitus claims, and the Board found no such evidence in the record. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not include bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Peripheral Neuropathy in Left Lower Extremity (Sciatic Nerve), Peripheral Neuropathy in Right Lower Extremity (Sciatic Nerve), Peripheral Neuropathy in Left Upper Extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy in Right Upper Extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21004208
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 21004208.
What this means for you
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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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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