The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating as his pure tone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's left foot laceration status post artery repair with residuals is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum available under DC 5284. The Board finds no basis to assign a higher rating based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left foot neuropathy disability warrants a separate 20 percent rating as it manifests as incomplete moderate paralysis of the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's left foot scar disability is rated at noncompensable, but the Board finds that one or two scars are painful and warrant a 10 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a compensable rating. Hearing levels above I are not shown.,Throughout the appellate period, the Veteran's left foot disability has manifested as no more than a moderate foot injury. The Board finds no basis to assign a higher rating based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's service-connected left foot disability warrants a separate rating for neuropathy that manifests as incomplete moderate paralysis of the left lower extremity.,It is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's left foot scar disability manifests as one or two scars that are painful.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Foot Laceration Status Post Artery Repair with Residuals, Left Foot Neuropathy Disability, Left Foot Scar Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2021
- Citation
- A21020197
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 A21020197.
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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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his active service. The Board noted that while he had complaints of earaches in service, these did not indicate a current disability.
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