The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. For PTSD, a rating of 50 percent prior to April 5, 2005, and greater than 50 percent thereafter has been granted.
The deciding factor: PTSD symptoms led to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to severe depression, anxiety, irritability, nightmares, chronic sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, intrusive thoughts, obsessional rituals, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and social withdrawal and avoidance. The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 9, 2010
- Citation
- 1008913
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 1008913.
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).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- 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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