The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus type II, diabetes mellitus type II, RLE and LLE peripheral neuropathies also associated with diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, and sinusitis, have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent from December 30, 2019. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA based on these service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating from December 30, 2019, due to their combined effect resulting in a 70 percent disability rating. The private physician's assessment confirmed that the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since March 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II, Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II, Diabetes Mellitus type II, RLE Peripheral Neuropathy associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II, LLE Peripheral Neuropathy associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II, Tinnitus, Sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24066360
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 948 · Granted: 52% (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 A24066360.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 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.
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