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Granted

The veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and he was granted a 10 percent initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss from July 31, 1998 to April 2, 2004. He was also granted a 40 percent rating for his right shoulder disability from October 18, 2001 onwards. The veteran's claim for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder disability is denied.

The deciding factor: The veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of in-service exposure to hostile forces, which satisfies the criteria for service connection. His bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Table VI based on audiometric testing results from March 1995 and his right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent since October 2001.

Claimed conditions
Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (PTSD)
How they argued it
Presumptive (no nexus needed)
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
30%
Decision date
September 27, 2004
Citation
0426933

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 0426933.

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.

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