The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as the May 2006 VA examination showed he had Level III hearing impairment in his right ear and Level I hearing impairment in his left ear. For PTSD, the Veteran's disability caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks from January 15, 2004 to May 18, 2008, and since then has caused reduced reliability and productivity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The VA examination showed he had mild to moderate hearing impairment in both ears, which did not warrant a higher initial rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 2, 2010
- Citation
- 1033041
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 1033041.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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