The veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but his psychiatric disability has been productive of a demonstrable inability to obtain or retain employment since February 24, 1998. His residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left arm have resulted in moderate impairment of Muscle Group V muscles.
The deciding factor: The veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service exposure, but his psychiatric disability has caused significant functional impairment since February 24, 1998.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, post-traumatic stress disorder with history of hypochondriacal neurosis with gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular psychophysiological disorders (including headaches)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 12, 2001
- Citation
- 0116040
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 0116040.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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