The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being April 19, 2005. The hearing loss and PTSD conditions received their respective increases to 10 percent and 70 percent ratings from that date onwards. For his feet, he was granted a 20 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the right foot as of May 16, 2005, and a 30 percent rating for traumatic arthritis of the left foot starting from September 27, 2000.
The deciding factor: The veteran's conditions improved to warrant higher ratings after April 19, 2005. His hearing loss was rated at 10 percent effective May 16, 2005, and his PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective April 19, 2005. For his feet, the right foot received a 20 percent rating as of May 16, 2005, while the left foot received a 30 percent rating from September 27, 2000 onwards.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic arthritis of the right foot, traumatic arthritis of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0610289
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.
- 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).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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