The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss by aggravation and denied service connection for head injury residuals and PTSD. The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities include Crohn's disease, neck pain, low back pain with radiculopathy, tinnitus, status post septoplasty with sinusitis and rhinitis, headaches, and major depression. The veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during service, warranting service connection. Service connection was denied for head injury residuals and PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor related to combat experience.
- Claimed conditions
- Hearing Loss, Head Injury Residuals
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 15, 2006
- Citation
- 0614091
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 0614091.
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 denied an increased disability evaluation for PTSD but granted an earlier effective date for TDIU of August 6, 2012.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for increased rating for diabetes and hearing loss, granted service connection for chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes, and remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremity.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied prior to December 4, 2013, but a 20 percent rating was granted from December 4, 2013, to September 26, 2015.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.