The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and multiple other disabilities due to shell fragment wounds in service. The Board found that the evidence supported a diagnosis of PTSD based on verified combat stressors, but did not find sufficient evidence to support current diagnoses or etiology for the other conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's PTSD was diagnosed based on his confirmed combat experiences and consistent with DSM-IV criteria. However, there is no medical evidence supporting current diagnoses or etiology for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, elbow disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right leg disability, low back disability, or left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Bilateral Elbow Disability, Neck Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Right Leg Disability, Low Back Disability, Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 27, 2008
- Citation
- 0836814
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 0836814.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
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