The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, cold weather injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cold weather injuries have caused significant functional impairment that makes it difficult for him to engage in most types of physical employment due to pain and restricted motion. His PTSD also contributes to his unemployability by making it challenging for him to maintain employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, PTSD, Cold Weather Injury Residuals (Left Upper Extremity), Cold Weather Injury Residuals (Right Upper Extremity), Cold Weather Injury Residuals (Left Lower Extremity), Cold Weather Injury Residuals (Right Lower Extremity), Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 22, 2014
- Citation
- 1417950
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 1417950.
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.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- 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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
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