The veteran's claims for PTSD, gunshot wound residuals, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The VA determined that the PTSD did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, the gunshot wound residuals met criteria for a 20% evaluation, there was no compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus warranted only a 10% evaluation.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's PTSD symptoms were primarily manifested by irritability and outbursts of anger, social isolation, and hypervigilance, resulting in significant but not total occupational and social impairment. The gunshot wound residuals resulted in moderate injury with no artery, nerve, or bone involvement, debridement, and return to light duty. Left ear hearing loss was Level I, and tinnitus warranted only a 10% evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Residuals of Gunshot Wound to Muscle Group III, Right Upper Arm, Left Ear Hearing Loss, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 28, 2001
- Citation
- 0106139
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 0106139.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
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