The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The RO denied an increased rating for his mandibular fracture residuals and paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve, but granted a separate rating for this condition. His depressive disorder was also granted, with no referral to extra-schedular consideration. The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to multiple service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The RO found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in service and granted service connection based on exposure to aircraft noise. For his mandibular fracture residuals, the RO determined that a higher rating was not warranted as he did not have marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization. The paresthesia of the fifth cranial nerve was separately rated due to its distinct manifestations from the mandibular fractures. His depressive disorder was granted based on service connection and no referral for extra-schedular consideration was necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Residuals of Bilateral Compound Mandibular Fracture with Loss of All Teeth, Depressive Disorder, not otherwise specified
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2002
- Citation
- 0203701
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 0203701.
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 an initial increased rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability from March 8, 2010, to May 19, 2014, and denied a higher rating thereafter.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, denied increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic sinusitis, granted a 50 percent initial rating for tension headaches, and denied initial compensable ratings for dermatitis and respiratory disability (shortness of breath).
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder of generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection was also granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a 20 percent rating was assigned for left ankle achilles tendonitis from October 23, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include GAD and depressive disorder, as well as a cervical spine disability, right wrist pain, and left wrist pain. However, the claims for lumbar spine pain were denied.
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